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Strawberry  Plain*  "Valley  Forge,"  Tenjv 
IVING  PICTURE  ON  MEMORY'S  WALL" 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


n/\ 


BRADSHAW    PRINTING  COMPANY 
ALLIANCE.    OHIO 


FOOTPRINTS 

THROUGH 

DIXIE 


EVERYDAY   LIFE   OF   THE   MAN 
UNDER  A  MUSKET 

ON  THE  FIRING  LINE  AND  IN 

THE   TRENCHES 

1862-1865 


By  J.  W.  GASKILL 

ALLIANCE,  OHIO 
1919 


CONTENTS 

Chapter  One— Camp  Massillon  to  Cincinnati  and  Lexington,  Ky.  21 
Muster  in— Trip  to  seat  of  war— Enemy  threatens  Cincinnati- 
Autocrat  of  the  picket  line.  "Raw  material"  under  cover— First  ex- 
perience under  fire — Austrian  muskets  in  action — Grand  rounds  has 
narrow  escape — Preacher  handy  with  a  rawhide — Squirrel  hunters — 
The  "nubbuh"  brigadier— Vile  water— Boys  threaten  the  "nubbin"— 
Protecting  rebel  property— Called  out  by  false  alarms— March  to 
Lexington— Ambulances  crowded  with  "victims"  of  "Tadpole"  pond — 
Change  of  commander— Severe  drill  and  discipline— Ritchey  delight- 
ed with  drill  and  steady  job— Captain  resigns— Christmas  box  that 
never  reaches  us — Reilly's  penetrating  voice — First  "sting"  of  the 
grayback — Midnight  order  to  march. 

Chapter  Two — Richmond  to  Mt.   Vernon,  Kentucky    39 

March  to  Richmond,  Ky.— Pass  home  of  Clay— Build  fortifica- 
tions— First  pay  day — Desertions — Officers  resign — March  to  Dan- 
ville, Ky. — Slaves  advertised  for  sale — March  to  Frankfort,  Ky.  More 
officers  resign— On  provost  duty — Thirty-two  mile  march  to  Danville 
— On  to  Camp  "Dick"  and  Lexington — Again  tenting  on  the  old  camp 
ground — Drill  and  camp  duties  a  plenty — Car  ride  to  Nicholasville — 
Find  what  we  are  looking  for — Chased  back  to  fortifications — Rebs 
capture  pickets — March  to  Lancaster,  Crab  Orchard  and  Mt.  Vernon 

Chapter  Three — Mt.   Vernon,  Ky.  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee 49 

Scouting  in  Wildcat  mountains — No  end  to  drills — Inspections — 
In  the  guard  house — Clean  faces  and  equipments — Conscientious  ser- 
geant pacified — Kentucky  pies — Development  of  brigadiers  under 
muskets — March  to  Camp  Nelson,  Somerset  and  Danville — Again 
"tenting  on  the  old  camp  ground" — Prepare  for  march  through  the 
Cumberlands — March  to  Cumberland  river — "Eli  hides  behind  his 
knapsack" — Nick's  disloyalty — In  the  mountains — Helping  artillery 
over  hard  spots — Mountain  scenery  new  but  not  pleasing — Parson 
Brownlow — Arrive  at  Knoxville — Hearty  welcome  by  citizens — Flank 
movement  to  Cumberland  Gap — Enemy  surrenders — Return  to  Knox- 
ville— Lively  discussion  in  the  ranks — Vote  for  Brough  for  governor 
— Four  votes  for  Valandingham  in  regiment — Siege  of  Knoxville — On 
guard  at  Citizens  prison — Hospitable  rebel  family — Rebels  close  in 
and  siege  begins — Enemy  repulsed  at  Ft.  Sanders — Carry  off  rebel 
dead — Nearing  point  of  starvation — Sherman  with  Fourth  Corps  to 
the  rescue — Disappointed  secesh  girls — Enemy  retreat — Shower  of 
mail  from  home — March  to  Strawberry  plains — Scouting  in  surround- 
ing country — Starvation  and  cold — Valley  Forge  of  Civil  War — See- 
ly's  "graybacks  starving" — Piteous  cries  of  famishing  mules — No  base 
of  supplies — Living  off  devastated  country — Sergeant  writes  a  chap- 
ter in  my  diary — "Dad"  Schooley  secures  a  job  as  miller  but  business 
is  poor — Not  much  to  grind — Jake  makes  a  "killing" — Hospitals  crow- 
ded with  fever  and  scurvy  victims.  Return  to  Knoxville. 

Chapter   Four — Knoxville    and   Return    83 

Warm  clothing  and  full  rations — Another  scout  east  of  the  city — 
Arrive  at  "Valley  Forge"  and  bivouac — Navigation  open  on  the  Hol- 
ston — March  to  New  Market,  Mossy  Creek  and  Morristown — Pickets 
attacked — Enemy  driven  back — Retreat  to  Mossy  Creek — Return  to 
Morristown  and  on  to  Bulls  Gap — Yonie  a  reliable  weather  prophet — 
Tear  up  railroad  and  burn  bridges — A  bug  in  his  ear — Recruits  arrive 
— Return  to  Knoxville — On  provost  duty — Brownlow  re-establishes 
his  paper  calling  it  "The  Knoxville  Whig  And  Rebel  Ventilator." 

Chapter  Five— Knoxville,  Tenn.  to  Chattahoochie  River  Ga 95 

Goodbye  to  friends  in  Knoxville — March  to  Redclay,  Ga. — Snake 
Creek  Gap  and 'Rocky  face  Ridge— "Rolling  stones  gather  no  moss" 


Gr-^1 

Battle  of  Resaca,  Ga.  Yonie's  weather  predictions  dependable — Cass- 
ville,  Cartersville,  Dallas  and  on  to  Kenesaw  mountain — Blazing  fire- 
works from  summit  of  Kenesaw — Dodging  from  cover  to  cover  on 
the  skirmish  line — The  Chaplain't  dilemma — "Many  are  the  hearts 
that  are  weary  tonight" — On  to  Marietta  and  Chattahoochie  river — 
Bath  and  swim — Camp  for  short  rest  at  Isham's  Ferry. 

Chapter  Six— Atlanta,  Ga.   to  Decatur,   Ga 108 

End  of  fifty  miles  of  digging,  chopping,  marching  and  fighting — 
Physical  examination  of  the  army.  Many  have  dropped  from  the 
ranks  through  exhaustion — "Fresh  Fish"  passes  first  degree — On  to 
Atlanta — Enemy  driven  to  works  defending  the  city — Assault  by  the 
enemy  repulsed — Reilly  promoted  to  brigadier — Death  of  McPherson 
— Building  fortifications — Lured  into  a  trap  at  Utoy  Creek — A  broth- 
er's devotion — Patriotic  Tennesseans — Death  of  our  captain — Flank 
movement  decided  fate  of  Atlanta.  "Atlanta  ours  and  fairly  won" — 
In  hospital  at  Atlanta — Depopulation  of  city.  "War  is  Hell." 

Chapter  Seven — Decatur,   Ga.   to  Nashville,   Tenn 123 

Camp  at  Decatur,  Ga. — Loss  since  beginning  of  campaign — Seven- 
ty-five miles  of  graves — "Salamanders" — Planter  on  his  dignity — Rit- 
chey  makes  trouble  between  Yonie  and  Fritz — Enemy  cuts  cracker 
line — Oracles  losing  faith  in  Sherman's  generalship. — March  to  Al- 
toona — Kenesaw  mountain — Enemy's  assault  repulsed  by  General 
Corse — In  pursuit  of  enemy — Hood  tearing  up  railroad  and  burning 
bridges — Enemy  evasive  and  dodging  battles — "Hold  the  Fort" — Boys 
discouraged — Fritz  says  Sherman  is  crazy — Sherman's  army  divided — 
Beginning  of  march  to  the  sea — Fourth  and  Twenty-third  Corps  left 
to  look  after  Hood — Dixie  ladies  do  not  love  Yanks — Thrilling  expe- 
rience passing  over  skeleton  bridges — Arrive  at  Nashville — Vote  for 
Lincoln — Boys  discouraged — Smitty  and  Fritz  may  be  wiser  than  they 
look. 

Chapter  Eight— Nashville,  Tenn.  to   Clifton,  Tenn   135 

Battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville — Exciting  foot  race — Narrow 
escape  at  Spring  Mill — Grilling  night  retreat — Visit  Zolicoffer  Hotel 
— Rebel  army  annihilated — Boys  pester  Yonie  and  Fritz — Smitty  rea- 
lizes on  his  troubles — Visit  Franklin  battle  field  and  bury  our  dead — 
Capture  our  wounded  who  are  cared  for  by  citizens  of  Franklin — 
Nearly  two  thousand  new  made  graves — March  to  Columbia — Chick- 
en for  Christmas  dinner — Spare  ribs  and  backbone — March  to  Clifton, 
Tenn. — Adventure  with  bushwhackers — Rebel  letter. 

Chapter  Nine— Clifton,  Tenn.  to  Wilmington,  N.   C 162 

Down  Tennessee  river  on  transports  and  up  Ohio  to  Cincinnati,  O. 
— Again  on  native  soil — Over  Snow  bound  country  to  Bellaire  by  rail 
— Feasting  on  the  way — Adventure  on  "French"  furlough — On  to 
Washington,  D.  C. — Georgia  "Woodticks" — Down  the  Atlantic  to  Ft. 
Fisher  and  Cape  Fear — Seely  makes  his  will — Landing  at  Smithville 
— Capture  of  Ft.  Anderson  and  Wilmington — Enemy  destroy  property 
and  retreat — Celebrate  capture  of  enemy's  last  seaport — Sergeants 
have  an  "argument" — Overstocked  with  tobacco,  cigars  and  whiskey 
— Andersonville  prisoners — On  provost  duty  in  city. 

Chapter  Ten — Wilmington  to  Greensboro,  N.  C.  and  Home   174 

March  to  Goldsboro — Fine  plantations — Fences  decorated  with 
pickaninnies — Meet  advance  of  Sherman's  army — Contrabands  of  war 
— Whipping  post  and  auction  block — Evacuation  of  Richmond  and 
surrender  of  Lee — Great  rejoicing  in  camp — Davis  on  the  hunt  of 
new  seat  of  government — Cavalry  on  the  hunt  of  Davis  and  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollar  reward — March  to  Raleigh — Assassination  of 
Lincoln — Alarm  at  Raleigh — Surrender  of  Johnson  to  Sherman — Sul- 
tana Disaster — Regiment  takes  possession  of  property — About  four 
hundred  yanks  land  in  the  midst  of  thirty  thousand  Johnnies — End  of 
war — Convention  of  Ohio  soldiers  endorse  General  Cox  for  Governor 
of  Ohio— Visit  old  battle  field  of  Guilford  Court  House  1781— Muster 
out  and  return  home — Unknown  correspondents. 


550060 


DEDICATION 


To  the  children  and  grandchildren  of  my  eighty-seven 
comrades  who  have  answered  the  final  roll  call,  and  to  my 
twelve  surviving  comrades  of  company  "B"  104th,  Regiment 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  who  near  three  score  years  ago 
marched  out  one  hundred  strong  in  defense  of  the  Union  and 
to  my  brave  and  loyal  East  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  com- 
rades of  the  23d  Army  Corps  who  suffered  persecution  rather 
than  forsake  their  state,  and  their  country's  flag ;  driven  from 
devastated  homes,  secreting  themselves  in  caves  and  fighting 
their  way  through  mountains  in  endeavor  to  reach  Union  lines, 
forming  into  company's  and  regiments,  gallantly  fighting  and 
making  the  sacrifice  of  life  in  defense  of  their  State  and 
Union,  this  little  volume  is  dedicated. 

Alliance,  Ohio,  August,  1919. 


PREFACE 

RITERS  of  war  history  necessarily  confine  them- 
selves to  causes  of  war,  the  movements  of  armies, 
the  results  of  battles  and  matters  of  major  import- 
ance making  for  the  weal  or  woe  of  contending 
forces  engaged,  history  that  goes  down  through  ages  and  lives 
long  after  those  who  bore  the  storm  of  shell  and  fire,  felt  the 
pangs  of  defeat  or  joined  in  the  shout  of  victory,  have  return- 
ed again  to  their  kindred  dust. 

But  there  is  another  history,  an  unwritten  history.  It  is 
the  story  of  the  every  day  life  of  the  soldier  in  arms,  the 
lights  and  the  shadows  of  the  men  on  the  field  and  in  camp, 
the  life  and  work,  the  heart-beats  and  throbs  of  the  men  on  the 
firing  line,  the  history  as  only  those  engaged  as  comrades 
know  it  and  which  largely  finds  expression  only  at  campfires 
as  they  meet  in  after  years. 

It  is  this  history,  the  story  of  comrades  in  the  ranks,  this 
little  volume  records,  a  history  compiled  from  a  diary,  the 
notes  made  day  by  day  through  the  years  of  service  by  the 
author  himself.  It  is  the  story  of  battlefields,  character 
sketches  of  types  found  in  every  company,  incidents  grave 
and  gay  of  comrades  who  met  face  to  face  the  grillings,  hard- 
ships and  dangers  of  military  service. 

In  the  belief  that  it  might  prove  of  interest  to  comrades 
who  are  still  living  and  to  kindred  and  friends  of  those  who 
have  passed  away,  with  the  further  hope  that  it  may  prove  of 
value  as  a  family  heirloom  with  a  record  entered  therein 
showing  the  valor  and  daring  of  fathers,  brothers  or  hus- 
bands, typical  of  the  character  and  life  they  lived  and  duty 
performed  in  a  nation's  trying  hour,  has  this  little  volume 
been  written  and  sent  adrift  to  the  world  by  the 

—AUTHOR 


SERVICE  RECORD 


This  space  is  for  filling  by  comrade,  widow  or  children  of 
departed  soldier,  or  soldier  of  our  country's  wars  as  a  record 
or  heirloom  for  the  passing  to  posterity  in  the  way  of  family 
history — something  that  cannot  other  than  become  more  a 
pride  with  the  passing  of  years. 


WAR  OF  REBELLION 


Name  

Date  of  Enlistment 

Date  of  Discharge 

Company Regiment 

Brigade Division. 

A  rmy  Corps 

Date  of  Birth....  ...Date  of  Death.... 


SERVICE  RECORD 


WORLD'S  WAR 


Name 

Date  of  Enlistment 

Date  of  Discharge 

Company Regiment 

Brigade Division. 

Army  Corps 

Date  of  Birth....  ...Date  of  Death.... 


WAR  WITH  SPAIN 

Name 

Date  of  Enlistment 

Date  of  Discharge 

Company Regiment 

Brigade Division. 

A  rmy  Corps 

Date  of  Birth....  ...Date  of  Death.... 


OTHER  WARS 


Name 

Date  of  Enlistment. 


Date  of  Discharge 

Company Regiment. 


Brigade Division. 

A  rmy  Corps 

Date  of  Birth....  ...Date  of  Death.... 


Name 

Date  of  Enlistment 

Date  of  Discharge 

Company Regiment 

Brigade Division. 

Army  Corps 

Date  of  Birth Date  of  Death.... 


INTRODUCTORY 


"We  are  Coming  Father  Abraham,  Six  Hundred  Thousand  More." 

It  is  now  nearing  three  score  years  since  we  responded  to  this 
call  and  marched  out  to  meet  a  threatened  invasion  of  the  North  by 
insurgent  forces  who  had  driven  our  forces  northward  threatening 
Washington  City  and  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

This  history  is  compiled  from  a  diary  written  while  serving  in 
the  ranks  with  the  104th  Volunteer  Infantry,  23d  Corps,  Army  of 
Ohio,  throughout  the  last  three  years  of  the  war  in  the  middle  west- 
ern Army. 

First  year  we  were  engaged  in  drilling,  cleaning  up  camp  grounds, 
dodging,  chasing  and  being  chased  by  rebel  cavalry  and  wearing  out 
shoe  soles  on  the  hot  and  dusty  pikes  of  Kentucky,  in  the  meantime 
burning  up  many  top  rails  from  plantation  fences. 

Then  with  General  Burnside,  from  Kentucky  through  the  Cum- 
berland mountains  to  Knoxville,  Cumberland  Gap,  siege  of  Knoxville 
and  operations  in  East  Tennessee.  After  about  six  months  service 
in  this  state  we  entered  upon  the  Georgia  campaign  and  united  with 
Sherman,  forming  a  part  of  his  forces  concentrated  near  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  and  on  to  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  back  to  northern  Alabama.  Then 
under  General  Thomas  at  Columbia,  Spring  Hill,  Franklin  and  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.  The  Confederate  army  having  been  driven  from  the 
southwest  we  accompanied  General  Schofield  on  a  mid-winter  trip 
from  Clifton,  Tenn.,  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  via  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 
down  the  Potomac  river,  Chesapeake  Bay  and  Atlantic  coast  on 
transports  to  Cape  Fear,  N.  C.,  and  through  this  state  to  Wilmington, 
Goldsboro,  Raleigh,  ending  with  the  surrender  of  enemy  forces  at 
Greensboro,  N.  C.,  and  end  of  the  struggle. 

Almost  incredible,  it  now  seems,  are  the  memories  these  old 
diaries  awaken  as  I  scan  their  faded  and  time  stained  pages.  The 
incidents  and  scenes  recalled  seem  as  a  dream  of  the  past.  Reading 
over  the  pages  noted  down  day  after  day  recalls  to  mind  many  in- 
cidents not  recorded  at  the  time  and  apparently  forgotten. 

Again  I  see  tear  stained  faces  of  mothers,  sisters  and  wives  as  we 
wave  farewell  from  the  train  bearing  us  to  the  seat  of  war,  the  youth- 
ful and  beardless  faces  of  comrades  who  if  now  living  have  passed 
the  allotted  years  given  to  man.  The  camping  grounds  and  tented 
fields  spread  out  before  me.  I  hear  the  patter  of  rain  upon  our  tents, 
or  upon  our  ponchos  under  which  we  often  sleep  without  other  shel- 
ter— the  tattoo,  the  reveille  and  assembly  call — the  call  of  the  company 
roll  from  Adams  on  down  the  line  to  Zentz. 

I  see  ill  fed  and  half  clad  boys  facing  blasts  of  winter  in  Ten- 
nessee, the  exhausted  and  footsore  soldiers  apparently  on  the  verge 
of  collapse,  yet  pluckily  keeping  their  place  in  ranks  during  our 

11 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

forced  marches  in  withering  heat  of  a  Georgia  midsummer  sun.  I 
hear  the  beating  of  the  long  roll,  the  snapping  of  the  bayonet  along 
the  line  as  we  await  the  bugle  call,  the  scream  of  shot  and  shell,  the 
rebel  yell  as  they  advance  upon  our  works.  I  see  dead  and  wounded 
on  the  field  and  hear  agonizing  appeals  for  help  and  for  mercy. 
Memories  of  all  these  are  vivid.  These  scenes  again  pass  before 
me  as  a  motion  picture  film  thrown  upon  the  screen. 

To  the  young  these  diaries  of  half  a  century  agone  are  a  frag- 
ment of  ancient  history.  To  the  survivors  of  the  civil  war  it  seems 
but  yesterday  when  we  responded  to  the  call  of  Lincoln  for  "six 
hundred  thousand  more."  Yet  looking  backward  over  intervening 
years  and  noting  the  great  progress  of  our  country  with  its  trebled 
population,  its  advancement  to  a  well-earned  position  among  the 
leading  nations  of  the  earth,  the  application  of  electricity  and  arts 
that  benefit  mankind,  we  know  that  these  and  hundreds  of  other 
achievements  the  mind  of  man  has  wrought  could  not  have  been  ac- 
complished without  much  time  and  energy.  Messages  then  trans- 
mitted by  wire  with  dots  and  dashes  now  fly  through  space  by  some 
invisible  power  and  unknown  channel.  Telephones  were  unknown, 
gasoline  and  electricity  were  unknown  as  a  controlled  power  to  sup- 
ply heat  and  light.  Men  who  were  bold  enough  to  attempt  to  work 
out  the  problem  of  navigating  the  air  were  sometimes  railroaded  to 
insane  hospitals. 

The  close  of  the  conflict  of  1861-5  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  era. 
Our  united  country  with  its  blight  of  two  hundred  years  or  more 
removed,  is  working  in  harmony  for  the  good  of  mankind.  The  unity 
of  the  states  is  firmly  established.  That  we  have  lived  to  see  all 
this  and  feel  that  the  man  in  the  ranks  with  his  able  commander  have 
contributed  to  the  welfare  and  progress  of  the  country  is  a  pleasing 
recollection  during  the  closing  years  of  our  lives. 

History  makes  scant  note  of  the  every  day  life  of  the  man  under 
a  musket  upon  whose  courage,  vigilance  and  stern  sense  of  duty  the 
safety  of  the  army  depends,  either  in  battle  or  during  the  sentinel's 
lonely  vigil  in  the  dark  forests  of  the  enemy's  country;  always  on 
the  alert  to  give  warning  of  the  enemy  approach  or  movements — not 
knowing  when  the  scouting  foe  may  be  drawing  a  deadly  aim.  The 
every  day  life  of  the  man  in  the  ranks,  while  on  the  march,  in  the 
camp,  on  the  firing  line  and  in  the  trenches  cannot  be  given  by  the 
historian.  A  history  of  the  war  will  never  be  written.  Tortures  of 
Andersonville  and  other  prisons  or  the  sufferings  endured  during 
active  campaign  in  a  hot  blistering  climate  cannot  be  expressed  in 
words  but  are  deeply  impressed  on  the  minds  of  all  who  passed 
through  the  experience.  No  hours  are  fixed  for  the  bugle's  assembly 
call  or  beating  of  the  long  roll  calling  to  arms.  From  reveille  to 
tattoo  and  from  tattoo  to  reveille  the  soldier  must  be  ready  to  an- 
swer the  call  of  duty. 

12 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

No  attempt  is  here  made  except  in  a  general  way  to  give  ac- 
count of  the  movements  or  manipulations  of  the  army  to  which  we 
belonged.  To  get  a  clear  understanding  of  the  purposes  and  results 
of  these  movements  the  reader  and  writer  must  refer  to  history  for 
information.  A  man  in  the  ranks  is  but  a  small  part  of  a  mass  form- 
ing a  unit  operated  by  his  commander,  therefore  he  is  not  in  a  posi- 
tion to  give  reliable  information  showing  movements  or  details  of 
engagements  in  which  he  takes  a  part.  These  are  left  to  the  histor- 
ian who  has  access  to  documents  in  the  war  department  or  possibly 
to  him  who  directs  the  movements  of  the  forces  under  his  command. 
A  man  in  the  ranks  sees  but  little  that  occurs  outside  his  company 
or  regiment.  Assaulting  the  enemy  line  or  defending  our  own  is  an 
exceedingly  busy  time,  as  well  as  exciting,  and  always  alarming. 
We  look  neither  to  the  right  or  left,  but  straight  ahead  delivering 
and  dodging  ammunition,  forgetting  for  the  instant  that  dodging  at  the 
"zip"  of  the  ball  or  explosion  of  the  shell  is  a  vain  effort  to  escape  in- 
jury. 

If  the  writer  gives  his  experience  in  the  army  more  prominence 
than  is  given  to  other  members  of  the  company  it  is  not  because  he 
performed  more  or  better  service  than  did  his  comrades.  In  fact, 
the  contrary  will  be  shown  as  the  personal  records  of  the  soldiers 
are  shown  further  along.  This  diary  was  a  private  record  giving 
the  writer's  personal  experience,  and  events  coming  to  his  notice, 
adding  as  much  of  the  record  of  members  in  the  company  as  could 
be  obtained  from  other  sources.  It  is  not  aimed  to  impress  readers 
with  the  idea  possessed  by  the  boy  who,  after  years  of  listening 
to  his  father's  daring  exploits,  the  doubting  son  wanted  to  know  if 
"dad  didn't  have  some  help  in  putting  down  the  rebellion."  The  old 
veteran  probably  now  realized  the  fact  that  his  absence  from  the 
army  would  not  have  changed  the  course  of  events  during  that  try- 
ing time. 

The  writer's  experience  was  practically  the  experience  of  all 
who  answered  the  call  to  duly  during  campaigns  in  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee, Georgia,  Alabama  and  North  Carolina.  The  same  routine  of 
duties  was  performed  and  the  same  discipline  prevailed  throughout 
the  infantry  branch  of  service,  the  measure  of  discipline  enforced, 
depending  somewhat  upon  former  training  of  commanders. 

It  is  now  over  half  a  century  since  the  survivors  of  the  regiment 
were  mustered  out  of  service.  Of  the  one  hundred  men  belonging 
to  Company  "B"  thirteen  are  now  (1919)  believed  to  be  living.  The 
writer  has  aimed  to  give  a  correct  record  of  the  service  of  each 
member  of  the  company  as  these  records  are  shown  by  the  Orderly 
Sergeant's  daily  report,  showing  the  number  of  months  each  man 
was  in  line  with  his  command  ready  for  axtion  when  called  upon  to 
perform  duty  with  his  company  and  covering  the  time  from  the  day 
he  shouldered  his  musket  and  marched  into  the  unknown  until  his 
death  or  discharge  from  service. 

13 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

The  few  survivors  of  the  regiment  are  living  near  their  old 
homesteads  in  Stark,  Columbiana  and  Portage  counties,  Ohio,  to- 
gether with  their  descendants  and  the  descendants  of  those  who  have 
answered  to  the  final  roll  call.  To  these  this  little  volume  may  be 
of  interest  showing  the  part  their  ancestors  took  "That  the  govern- 
ment of  the  people,  by  the  people  and  for  the  people  might  not  per- 
ish from  the  earth." 

Thirty-three  members  of  this  company  enlisted  from  Marlboro 
township,  twenty-two  from  Paris  township,  nineteen  from  Lake,  sev- 
en from  Plain  township  and  Canton,  Stark  county,  eleven  from  Co- 
lumbiana county  and  the  others  from  townships  adjoining. 

During  our  two  years'  and  ten  month's  service,  the  average  time 
of  service  given  by  the  three  commissioned  officers  on  duty  with 
their  company,  was  nine  months,  and  of  the  thirteen  non-commis- 
sioned officers  nearly  fifteen  months.  The  average  time  of  service 
g:ven  by  the  eighty-four  private  soldiers  was  nearly  nineteen  months. 
The  average  age  of  the  commissioned  officers  was  thirty-one  years 
and  of  the  non-commissioned  officers  about  twenty-five  years.  The 
average  age  of  the  private  soldiers  was  under  twenty-two  years. 
Forty  of  the  latter  were  twenty  years  of  age  and  under,  and  twenty- 
three  were  under  nineteen  years  of  age.  Ten  of  these  boys  had  not 
arrived  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and  three  had  not  reached  their 
seventeenth  year. 

But  few  escaped  the  ills  incident  to  military  service  when  on 
active  duty  in  the  field  and  in  camp  life.  This  was  due  to  the  change 
from  home  food  to  the  army  ration,  to  irregular  eating  and  impure 
water.  These  conditions  together  with  the  hard  marches  and  ex- 
posure, brought  on  fevers,  rheumatism  and  bowel  troubles  that  sent, 
perhaps,  n'nety  percent  of  the  men  to  the  hospital  at  some  period 
during  service,  and  many  to  the  grave.  Unless  seriously  ill  those 
reporting  at  the  morning  sick  call  were  cared  for  in  the  field  hospi- 
tal or  left  to  remain  at  their  quarters  and  report  to  the  surgeon 
for  treatment.  Others  were  sent  to  the  general  hospitals.  Of  the 
latter  a  few  returned  for  duty  and  the  others  were  either  dis- 
charged from  service  or  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps  and  placed 
on  light  duty  in  the  rear  of  the  army  as  guards  over  commissary  or 
ammunition  stores,  nurses  and  helpers  at  hospitals,  etc. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  year's  service  the  company  had  lost  but 
two  men  in  battle,  yet  it  was  found  it  had  been  reduced  about  one- 
half  from  its  original  number.  Eight  had  been  discharged  for  vari- 
ous reasons,  five  had  died,  seven  were  transferred  to  the  invalid 
corps,  four  had  deserted,  one  resigned  and  fourteen  were  either  on 
detached  service  or  in  hospitals.  Referring  to  the  roster  of  Ohio 
soldiers  it  is  found  that  at  the  close  of  the  first  year's  service  less 
than  one-half  of  the  commissioned  officers  in  the  regiment  were  with 
their  commands.  Favoritism  or  political  pull  seems  to  have  placed 
too  many  straps  upon  the  shoulders  of  privates.  Five  of  these  offi- 

14 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

cers  had  died,  three  were  on  detached  service  and  fifteen  had  re- 
signed. Taking  the  experience  of  the  company  and  regiment  as  a 
basis  to  figure  from,  it  appears  that  less  than  fifty  percent  of  the  offi- 
cers and  men  who  entered  the  army  were  left  to  face  the  rough  and 
tumble  of  field  service  throughout  the  war. 

About  the  same  condition  existed  in  the  ranks.  To  detect  the 
infirmities  of  those  afflicted  with  chronic  weariness,  or  the  cunning 
dodgers  of  duty  was  beyond  the  ken  of  examining  surgeons.  The 
surgeon  did  not  demand  certificates  showing  the  characters  of  re- 
cruits examined.  He  merely  wanted  to  satisfy  himself  that  recruits 
were  sound  in  wind  and  limb  and  possessed  home-grown  teeth  sound 
enough  to  tear  a  cartridge  or  crack  a  hardtack.  This  was  sufficient. 
Horses  and  mules  passed  about  the  same  examination  with  fewer 
mistakes  perhaps. 

Sixty  eight  members  of  company  "B"  were  boys  from  the  farms 
and  country  villages,  many  of  whom  were  strangers  to  the  outside 
world  and  its  ways.  These  boys  were  sometimes  afflicted  with  home- 
sickness, a  malady  that  would  not  yield  to  doses  of  quinine  and  had 
to  run  its  course.  They  found  trouble  in  adjusting  themselves  to 
changed  conditions  and  modes  of  living.  It  required  an  effort  to 
change  from  mother's  comfortable  bed,  her  bread  and  butter,  pies, 
dumplings  and  doughnuts  and  many  other  good  things  often  dreamed 
of  but  never  found  on  the  quartermaster's  bill  of  fare.  Fat  and 
rusty  bacon,  pickled  pork,  hardtack  and  black  coffee  served  any  old 
way  was  a  poor  substitute  for  mother's  good  cooking  with  her  full 
rations  served  on  the  table  and  a  chair  at  the  accustomed  place.  The 
soft  side  of  mother  earth  (very  soft  at  times)  with  cartridge  box  or 
knapsack  for  pillow,  with  snakes,  lizards  and  bugs  as  occasional  bed- 
fellows was  a  trying  experience  for  boys  not  far  past  the  spanking 
age.  Mother  wasn't  there  to  tuck  in  the  blanket  or  with  extra  cov- 
ering when  needed.  The  sudden  change  from  quiet  home  life  to 
the  activities  and  excitement  of  military  service  was  not  fully  real- 
ized until  a  gun  was  placed  in  the  hands  and  military  discipline  ex- 
acted. At  home  when  dad  called  in  the  morning  to  get  up,  curry 
and  feed  the  horses  and  get  out  on  the  plowing  job,  the  boy  prompt- 
ly answered  "y-e-s,"  then  with  a  snort  and  a  yawn  he  just  rolled  over 
and  slept  on.  Dad  would  sometimes  stand  for  several  of  these  re- 
peated calls,  but  with  Uncle  Samuel,  it  was  different.  The  reveille 
was  the  first  and  last  call.  Uncle  never  called  reveille  twice  on  the 
same  day.  All  he  did  was  extra  duty  for  the  sleeper  with  a  prom- 
ise of  a  lot  more  extras  if  the  offense  was  repeated.  He  was  an 
expert  at  breaking  boys  into  habits  of  prompt  obedience,  with  no 
apologies,  excuses  or  back  talk  allowed. 

From  this  raw  material  made  up  from  enlistments  in  the  rural 
districts  of  the  west,  middle  west  and  border  slave  states  were  .men 
of  endurance,  self  reliance  and  pluck.  After  a  few  months  these  boys 
having  become  inured  to  military  service  and  discipline,  those  re- 

15 


.     Footprints  Through  Dixie 

maining  were  ready  and  willing  to  answer  to  the  call  of  duty  and 
when  it  came  to  the  matter  of  rations  it  was  quantity  they  were  look- 
ing for  instead  of  quality.  They  seldom  turned  over  for  another 
nap  at  reveille  and  at  roll  call  were  present  or  accounted  for.  They 
served  under  Thomas,  Sherman,  Wilson,  Schofield  and  others  during 
the  last  years  of  the  war,  eating  the  vitals  out  of  rebeldom  and  finally 
bringing  under  subjection  the  entire  southern  confederacy,  outside 
the  state  of  Virginia.  The  fact  that  the  western  army  met  with  but 
few  defeats  seems  to  warrant  the  conclusion  that  success  was  due 
to  the  power  of  endurance  and  fighting  qualities  of  the  hardy  west- 
ern soldier  and  his  able  commander. 

At  the  time  of  enlistment  the  war  had  been  under  way  over  a 
year.  A  few  victories  had  been  won  in  the  west.  When  it  was  not 
"all  quiet  on  the  Potomac"  we  knew  who  was  responsible  for  the  dis- 
turbance. It  was  the  prevailing  opinion  the  war  was  on  in  ear- 
nest. Yet,  at  the  time  of  our  muster  in  at  Massillon,  Ohio,  Governor 
Tod  was  present  and  made  a  speech  to  the  regiment  predicting  that 
the  war  would  soon  be  over  and  we  would  all  be  at  home  in  time  to 
partake  of  the  usual  turkey  dinner  on  the  following  Christmas  day. 
We  cheered  the  Governor,  of  course,  yet  we  believed  he  was  "string- 
ing" us  concerning  an  early  closing  of  the  war  and  Christmas  tur- 
key. The  governor  was  an  accomplished  politician,  one  who  could 
make  a  pleasing  and  plausible  as  well  as  a  promising  speech  without 
disclosing  any  more  facts  than  would  serve  his  party's  purpose. 
Inadvertently,  perhaps,  the  governor  became  "mussed"  up  in  his 
speech  and  thought  he  was  talking  to  constituents  instead  of  sol- 
diers; hence  he  believed  a  promise  of  some  kind  was  necessary.  The 
desire  to  cheer  the  governor  might  have  been  inspired  because  of  the 
nerve  he  displayed  in  giving  us  this  line  of  talk  at  a  time  when  Lee 
was  trying  to  overtake  the  army  of  the  Potomac  and  was  getting 
dangerously  near  to  Washington,  and  a  rebel  army  was  almost  within 
shelling  distance  of  Cincinnati.  Even  the  copperheads  in  the  gover- 
nor's own  state  were  rallying  at  "Fort  Fizzle"  to  resist  a  threatened 
draft. 

Notwithstanding  the  governor's  speech  the  outlook  for  an  early 
closing  of  the  war  did  not  look  promising  to  us.  Boys  who  left  their 
comfortable  homes  to  enter  the  service  were  not  moved  by  rash 
promises,  or  to  make  this  sacrifice  through  excitement,  a  spirit  of  ad- 
venture or  of  gain.  About  forty  cents  a  day  was  not  an  alluring  in- 
ducement for  one  of  sound  mind  to  become  a  target,  or  to  endure 
the  hardships  of  active  military  service.  It  was  evidently  an  earnest 
sense  of  duty  and  devotion  to  the  Union  and  the  cause  of  freedom 
that  inspired  these  boys  to  offer  their  services.  They  were  needed  at 
their  homes  to  help  till  the  soil  and  many  were  needed  in  the  school 
room  to  complete  their  education,  an  opportunity  that  was  lost  be- 
cause of  the  sacrifice  they  made. 

They  knew  the  primary    cause  of  the  war  was  slavery  as  it  then 

16 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

existed  in  the  south.  They  knew  slavery  was  protected  by  the  laws 
of  the  country,  yet  was  a  great  wrong  that  reason  could  not  defend. 
They  believed  the  beginning  of  the  war  was  the  beginning  of  the 
end  of  slavery  and  a  firmer  unity  of  the  states  should  the  northern 
army  prevail.  With  no  thought  of  reward  these  boys  answered  the 
call  of  their  country,  yet  believing  that  the  south  would  carry  out 
its  determination  to  fight  to  the  last  ditch  before  submitting  to  the 
humiliation  of  defeat. 

At  the  final  roundup,  when  the  rebel  army  in  the  west  was  al- 
most destroyed  at  Franklin  and  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  the  western 
army  had  marched  thousands  of  miles  throughout  the  confederacy 
destroying  and  capturing  the  enemy's  source  of  supplies,  we  found 
ourselves  confronting  his  "last  ditch"  near  the  border  line  of  North 
Carolina.  A  war  of  attrition  conducted  in  Virginia  had  reduced  the 
Confederate  forces  to  about  fifty  thousand  men,  consequently  the 
services  of  the  Western  Army  was  not  needed  or  desired. 

It  was  then  conceded  that  the  enemy  had  carried  out  his  "last 
ditch"  proposition  and  Governor  Tod's  reputation  as  a  forecaster  of 
events  suffered  a  severe  jolt,  for  Governor's  Christmas  turkey  was 
about  three  years  older  than  when  he  "jollied"  at  Massillon,  Ohio. 

Government  statistics  show  the  result  of  this  "before  Christmas" 
job,  in  the  Union  army,  as  follows: — 

Killed  and  died  of  wounds  94,311.  Died  of  disease,  237,374.  Total 
deaths  331,685.  Total  wounded,  272,083;  prisoners,  212,608.  Total 
casualty,  816,376.  Number  of  graves  in  National  cemeteries  313,555, 
of  which  172,500  are  marked  "Unknown." 

Number  of  Union  officers  killed  was  6,365.  Among  the  latter  was 
39  Generals.  Number  of  Confederate  generals  killed  was  57.  Total 
causualty  among  the  general  officers  in  both  Union  and  Confederate 
armies  was  218,  of  whom  nearly  one  hundred  was  killed  in  battle. 

The  wounds  of  the  past  are  now  healed.  We  sometimes  meet  in 
friendly  fellowship  with  our  former  enemies  whose  sons  and  grand- 
sons are  touching  elbows  with  our  sons  of  the  north  while  fighting  a 
world's  war.  Near  three  score  years  ago  many  of  our  adversaries 
sincerely  believed  it  their  patriotic  duty  to  support  designing  pol- 
iticians in  their  attempt  to  disrupt  the  Union  and  establish  a  system 
of  human  slavery,  but  right  and  justice  prevailed  and  time  has  con- 
vinced them  they  were  wrong. 

But  our  work  was  well  done  yet  at  this  great  cost  of  loyal  men. 
The  crisis  predicted  by  Lincoln  had  been  reached  and  passed.  The 
nation  was  saved  and  the  bondman  given  the  rights  sought  and  won 
by  our  forefathers  who  startled  the  world  by  declaring  that  "govern- 
ments derive  their  just  power  from  the  consent  of  the  governed;  that 
all  men  are  created  equal  and  endowed  with  the  right  of  life,  liberty 
and  pursuit  of  happiness,"  the  Golden  Rule  of  Democracy,  a  brief 
sentence  with  a  far  reaching  purpose,  now  reaching  throughout 

17 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

royalty  ridden  Europe.  With  many  self  evident  rights  and  abuses  in 
view,  and  enumerated  at  the  time,  a  new  Nation  was  then  founded  to 
which  these  forefathers  pledged  their  lives,  their  fortunes  and  their 
sacred  honor.  At  the  close  of  a  long  and  painful  struggle  a  new  Re- 
public was  recognized  among  the  world's  nations,  the  excellence  of 
which  these  forefathers  were  unaware  and  could  only  live  to  wit- 
ness a  small  measure  of  the  wonderful  development  of  their  handi- 
work. 

Eighty-five  years  later  we  answered  the  call  of  Lincoln  and 
marched  out  to  battle,  there  to  determine  whether  a  government 
founded  upon  these  principles  could  long  endure.  After  four  years 
covering  the  darkest  page  of  our  country's  history  that  government 
was  sustained,  treason  was  destroyed  and  the  unfinished  work  of  its 
founders  completed. 

And  now,  to  meet  the  greatest  crisis  in  the  annals  of  history  we 
renew  to  our  allies  the  pledges  given  their  country  by  our  forefa- 
thers and  send  our  sons  and  grandsons  to  establish  principles,  the 
founders  of  our  government  so  wisely  conceived  and  proclaimed  to 
the  world.  That  liberty,  right  and  justice  may  reign  over  the  desti- 
nies of  nations  millions  of  lives  and  billions  of  wealth  have  been  sac- 
rificed while  battling  a  decaying  heritage  of  the  dark  ages,  one  that 
defies  treaties  and  laws  of  civilized  warfare  in  its  barbarous  struggle 
for  supremacy. 

We  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  our  country's  achievement  in  mo- 
bilizing, training  and  equipping  over  two  million  men  in  so  short  a 
time.  From  civil  pursuits  these  boys  have  been  called  and  from 
this  raw  material  trained  soldiers  have  been  sent  from  three  to  four 
thousand  miles  and  placed  on  the  firing  line  giving  timely  aid  to  our 
sorely  pressed  allies. 

While  portions  of  a  war  stricken  country  are  in  an  uproar  threat- 
ening renewed  wars  and  revolutions  in  an  effort  to  build  free  gov- 
ernments upon  the  ruins  of  autocracy,  able  statesmen  from  all  na- 
tions are  struggling  with  the  greatest  problem  of  the  ages  hoping  to 
establish  a  league  of  nations  that  gives  promise  of  peace  on  earth 
and  good  will  to  all  men,  yet  we  again  hear  voices  from  narrow 
gauged  partisans  that  sound  like  a  far  away  wail  from  the  tomb  of 
of  Vallandigham,  types  of  soap  box  orators  and  wiseacres  inspired 
solely  because  of  partisan  affiliation  and  prejudice. 

Men  who  have  passed  over  battlefields  and  witnessed  the  harvest 
of  death,  heard  the  moans  and  prayers  of  the  maimed  and  dying  vic- 
tims, forced  to  battle  and  death  by  war  lords  to  gratify  ambition  or 
commercial  greed,  cannot  object  to  some  form  of  international  agree- 
ment that  will  forever  put  an  end  to  this  barbarous  method  of  set- 
tling differences,  or  the  bartering  and  parceling  out  of  lands  of  weak- 
er nations  to  conquerors. 

Let  us  hope  that  the  dawn  of  a  new  era  has  arrived  and  that  the 
United  States,  whose  principles  and  tenets  have  ever  been  favorable 

18 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

to  the  weak  and  downtrodden,  in  favor  of  right  as  against  wrong, 
may  lead  the  way  to  a  new  birth  of  the  world,  one  that  may  develop 
into  a  more  perfect  union  for  the  liberties  and  protection  of  all  the 
peoples  of  earth. 

We  saved  a  nation  from  destruction  and  gave  liberty  to  millions. 
All  honor  to  the  boys  who  have  gone  to  offer  their  services  and  lives 
in  this  great  struggle  for  "The  common  rights  of  humanity  against 
the  divine  right  of  kings,"  and  bring  lasting  peace  .to  the  world 
When  this  is  accomplished  their  names  will  go  down  in  the  world's 
history  as  heroes  of  the  ages,  while  our  services  in  suppressing  a 
huge  rebellion  or  family  quarrel  will  be  but  a  fading  memory  after 
we  have  passed  away. 

We  are  pleased  to  know  that  our  boys,  gone  out  to  battle  for 
these  great  principles  are  not  called  upon  to  face  the  dangers  from 
disease  due  to  exposure  and  many  of  the  hardships  that  fell  to  the 
lot  of  the  Civil  war  soldiers  over  half  a  century  ago.  Then  there 
was  no  conservation  of  food  except  in  the  army;  in  fact  much  of  the 
food  we  ate  would  have  fed  garbage  cans  at  home.  There  is  nothing 
too  good  for  the  men  on  the  firing  line  and  in  the  trenches  but  under 
conditions  existing  during  the  Civil  war  comforts  could  not  be  pro- 
vided. Today  our  boys  are  supplied  with  improved  arms  and  equip- 
ment and  means  of  protection  so  needful  while  with  us  many  died 
in  field  and  hospital  for  want  of  the  efficient  care  that  is  now  given. 

With  the  good  shelter,  abundance  of  wholesome  food  and  water 
and  many  of  the  comforts  of  home,  with  warm  meals  served  in  the 
trenches,  comfort  kits,  camp  entertainments,  cigarettes,  chocolates 
and  all  day  suckers,  we  envy  these  boys  their  opportunity  of  seeing 
something  of  the  old  world  and  contribute  our  bit  toward  removing 
a  bunch  of  titled  parasites  and  placing  them  in  a  position  to  earn  an 
honest  living.  When  democracy  rules  the  world  thousands  of  royal 
derelicts  will  be  thrown  upon  the  American  market  at  panic  prices. 


During  the  passing  of  fifty-four  years  since  we  were  mus- 
tered out  of  service  we  find  that  it  has  truly  been  said  that  "Dangers 
shared  breedeth  friendship,"  and  as  the  years  pass  this  feeling  of 
friendship  increases  as  the  rapidly  decreasing  number  in  our  ranks 
grow. 

While  in  service  it  was  a  common  remark  (closely  bordering  upon 
a  threat)  that  when  this  cruel  war  is  over  and  we  are  safely  at  our 
homes,  should  Mort.  Tony  or  Denious  or  any  one  armed  with  a  fife 
drum  or  bugle  ever  "loosen  up"  in  our  presence  with  their  brands  of 
music  and  instruments  of  torture,  he,  or  they  would  be  shot  on  the 
spot.  It  was  declared  that  a  dinner  horn  was  the  only  musical  instru- 
ment that  would  be  allowed  to  become  noisy  in  our  presence. 

Some  such  feeling  as  this  existed  at  times  when  these  boys  with 

19 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

their  fifes,  drums  and  bugles  were  pestering  us  when  we  sorely  need- 
ed sleep  and  rest.  We  might  have  endured  this  punishment  more  pa- 
tiently, perhaps,  had  we  not  sometimes  seen  the  boys  creep  back  in 
their  bunks  after  inflicting  their  punishment.  They  didn't  have  to 
drill,  go  on  picket  or  carry  a  gun.  As  we  then  viewed  the  situation, 
it  was  the  special  duty  of  these  boys  to  make  trouble. 

But  it's  all  over  now  and  we  take  back  all  the  hard  things  we 
said  while  the  boys  were  inflicting  their  punishment.  They  per- 
formed their  duties  as  faithfully  as  we  and  did  no  more  than  obey 
orders.  We  had  to  blame  some  one  and  dared  not  talk  back  to  the 
one  who  was  responsible  so  the  boys  got  it  because  they  were  caught 
in  the  act. 

But  this  abuse  never  disturbed  their  rest,  neither  did  it  worry 
them.  They  never  lay  awake  nights  because  of  what  we  said  to 
them  or  about  them. 

Yes,  this  bond  of  comradeship  that  had  its  beginning  in  the  ranks 
grows  with  the  passing  years.  Reunions  of  companies  and  regiments 
and  annual  encampments,  that  must  all  pass  away  within  a  few  years, 
are  attended  by  the  few  survivors.  Here  the  old  familiar  notes  of 
fife  and  bugle  and  beat  of  drums  with  Old  Glory  are  now  hailed  with 
delight  and  lusty  cheers.  The  bugle  call  of  reveille  and  tattoo,  and 
music  of  the  sheepskin  band  awaken  memories  of  years  when  the 
screaming  of  shot  and  shell  mingled  with  the  bugle  call,  now  bring 
tears  to  eyes  of  aged  survivors  of  our  Nation's  struggle  for  its  life. 
A  generation  grown  up  since  this  struggle  for  national  unity  and 
freedom  are  sometimes  amused  at  hearty  expressions  of  joy  shown 
by  comrades  who  meet  after  many  years  separation.  These  old  com- 
rades who  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  on  the  firing  line  and  in  the 
trenches,  possess  a  strong  feeling  of  comradeship  unknown  to  those 
who  have  not  passed  through  a  like  experience.  They  drank  from 
the  same  canteen,  shared  each  other's  blankets,  perhaps  cared  for 
each  other  when  sick  or  wounded.  Notwithstanding  this  trying  ex- 
perience they  delight  in  meeting  and  recalling  the  lights  and  shad- 
ows in  the  everyday  life  of  the  man  under  a  musket,  recollections 
that  will  never  grow  dim,  memories  of  the  trials  and  triumphs  of  a 
half  century  agone.  They  are  now  marking  time — 

"Their  arms  are  grounded  and  their  ranks  are  broken. 
The  brazen  bugle  sounds  the  charge  no  more, 

They're  waiting  orders  'till  the  word  is  spoken. 
To  join  their  comrades  on  the  other  shore." 


20 


CHAPTER  I. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  REGIMENT  AND  COMPANY 


Among  the  troops  responding  to  a  call  made  by  President  Lin- 
coln for  six  hundred  thousand  men  to  assist  in  putting  down  the 
rebellion  were  those  forming  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Regiment 
of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry. 

A  sufficient  number  of  enlistments  having  been  obtained  to  organ- 
ize a  regiment  of  one  thousand  men,  the  recruits  were  ordered  to 
assemble  at  Massillon,  Ohio,  on  August  12,  1862,  where  the  regiment 
was  organized  with  the  following  field  officers: — 

James  W.  Reilly,  Colonel,  Promoted  to  Brigadier  General,  July, 
1864.     Resigned  April  1,  1865. 

A.  S.  Mariner,  Lt.  Colonel,  Discharged  January  2,  1863. 

L.  D.  Woodworth,  Major,  Resigned  December  9,  1862. 

K.  G.  Thomas,  Surgeon,  Resigned  December  27,  1862. 

M.  W.  Dallas,  Chaplain,  Resigned  January  31,  1863. 

Walter  McClymonds,  Adjt.,  Mustered  out  at  close  of  the  war. 

Jacob  Shaffer,  Quartermaster,  Mustered  out  at  close  of  the  war. 

N.   McKinsey,  Asst.  Surgeon  Discharged  January  31,  1863. 

R.  P.  Johnson,  Asst.  Surgeon,  Discharged  February  5,  1863. 

Stanley  Humiston,  Sergt.  Major,  Mustered  out  at  the  close  of  war. 

After  the  ten  companies  organized  and  formed  into  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  regimenet,  it  remained  at  Massillon,  the  men 
awaiting  inspection,  physical  examination  and  supplies.  In  the 
meantime  drilling  in  squads,  company's  battalion  and  on  the  skir- 
mish line  occupied  the  time  in  preparation  for  coming  events. 

During  this  time  a  meeting  of  the  recruits  enlisted  by  Captain 
Jesse  K.  Coates  is  ordered  for  the  purpose  of  electing  first  and  sec- 
ond lieutenants  to  serve  in  the  company.  At  this  election  Franklin  A. 
Perdue  of  Paris  township  is  elected  first  lieutenant  and  Andrew  J. 
Southworth  of  Marlboro,  second  lieutenant.  By  virtue  of  the  date  of 
his  commission  Captain  Coates  became  second  ranking  captain  in 
the  regiment  which  gave  his  company  the  letter  "B"  and  places  us  on 
the  left  flank  of  the  regimental  line. 

August  30,  the  regiment  is  ordered  in  line  where  we  are  in- 
spected and  receive  the  usual  examination  and  then  are  sworn  into 
United  States  service  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  unless  sooner 
discharged.  After  this  examination  our  company  is  found  to  be  short 
the  required  number  of  men,  when  the  following  recruits  enlisted  by 

21 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

Captain  Coppock  of  Salem,  Ohio  are  transferred  to  our  company:— 
Thomas  R.  Adams,  Stanley  Humanson,  Cicero  Hawley,  John  F. 
Heacock,  William  Little,  David  C.  Martin,  Joseph  Robinson,  George 
Ritchey,  George  Schooley,  George  Stratton  and  Joseph  Stuart. 

Having  drawn  our  equipment  we  find  ourselves  armed  with  Aus- 
trian muskets  with  heavy  sword  bayonets,  the  latter  almost  as  heavy 
as  the  naked  gun,  while  the  muskets  are  wonderful  and  painful  kick- 
ers and  look  as  though  they  had  seen  service  before.  Men  who  wish 
to  escape  a  broken  jaw  or  dislocated  shoulder  soon  become  wise 
enough  to  hold  the  musket  hard  against  the  shoulder  before  firing; 
in  fact  either  end  of  the  musket  is  more  or  less  dangerous.  Our 
uniforms  consist  of  navy  blue  suits  throughout,  crowning  us 
with  tall  semi-stiff  hats  generously  decorated  with  feathers,  brass 
eagles  and  wreaths  with  letters  and  figures  indicating  company  and 
regiment. 

Fully  equipped  with  all  this  harness  and  brass,  with  guns  and 
well  filled  knapsack,  a  rush  is  made  for  the  photographer  where  full 
length  pictures  are  ordered  for  the  folks  at  home. 

September  2,  orders  are  issued  to  be  in  readiness  for  a  move- 
ment to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  the  rebel  General  Kirby  Smith  is 
reported  to  be  threatening  that  city  and  is  now  occupying  the  hills 
on  the  Kentucky  side  of  the  Ohio  river. 

The  last  days  in  camp  at  Massillon  before  leaving  for  the  seat 
of  war  are  full  of  interesting  and  sometimes  pathetic  scenes.  With 
the  many  gifts  from  friends  we  are  provided  with  almost  every  ar- 
ticle needed  for  housekeeping  which,  added  to  clothing  and  equip- 
ment provided  by  the  government,  packed  in  knapsacks,  then  strapped 
upon  our  backs  gives  us  somewhat  the  appearance  of  pack  mules  as 
we  file  down  the  streets  of  the  city  to  the  railroad  station.  As  the 
time  for  our  departure  draws  near  hundreds  of  friends  have  assem- 
bled in  camp  to  bid  us  goodbye.  The  touching  scenes  witnessed  at 
the  parting  of  sons  from  fathers,  mothers,  sisters,  the  husband  from 
wife  and  children  need  no  description  to  the  reader. 

The  good  ladies  of  Marlboro  present  to  Company  "B"  a  silken  flag 
made  by  their  own  hands,  for  which  they  are  heartily  cheered  by  the 
boys,  and  the  flag  accepted  with  an  appropriate  speech  delivered  by 
the  captain.  As  the  flag  cannot  be  carried  with  us  it  is  left  in  care 
of  the  ladies  who  presented  it. 

September  2,  we  are  called  into  line  and  after  listening  to  a 
speech  delivered  by  Governor  Tod  in  which  he  very  confidently  pre- 
dicts an  early  close  to  the  war,  we  bid  farewell  to  home  and  friends 
and  march  down  through  the  city  to  the  railroad,  board  the  cars  and 
after  a  tiresome  and  tedious  trip  of  about  twenty-four  hours  arrive 
in  Cincinnati.  On  arriving  at  this  city  the  regiment  forms  in  line 
and  marches  to  the  Ohio  river  which  we  cross  on  pontoon  bridges  to 
Covington,  Kentucky,  and  find  quarters  in  a  large  hall.  Afternoon 
we  cross  the  bridge  over  Licking  river  to  Newport,  Ky.,  and  through 

22 


Austrian  Musket  in  Action 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

this  village  to  a  point  about  three  miles  distant  where  we  bivouac, 
for  we  have  not  yet  been  provided  with  tents.  (Bivouac  for  the 
soldier  with  crackers,  coffee  and  bacon,  and  a  "handout"  and  "flop" 
for  the  modern  hobo  are  about  one  and  the  same  as  far  as  accom- 
modations go.) 

Martial  law  has  been  proclaimed  in  the  cities  of  Cincinnati,  Cov- 
ington  and  Newport  and  business  suspended,  all  now  under  control  of 
the  military  with  General  Lew.  Wallace  in  command.  The  mayors 
of  these  cities  have  issued  orders  for  all  able  bodied  citizens  to  as- 
semble at  convenient  places  to  aid  soldiers  in  defending  the  state  from 
invasion  by  the  enemy,  while  troops  and  squirrel  hunters  are  assem- 
bling from  all  quarters.  Saloon  keepers  who  do  not  wish  to  be  put 
out  of  business  with  confiscation  of  their  stock  in  trade  must  keep 
closed  during  the  enforcement  of  military  orders. 

This  camping  ground  is  called  "Camp  Rough,"  the  name  prob 
ably  being  suggested  by  the  lay  of  the  surrounding  country.  Soon 
after  arriving  in  camp  we  are  ordered  on  picket  duty  and  inform- 
ed that  our  pos.ition  will  be  fronting  the  enemy  lines.  This  infor- 
mation together  with  all  this  excitment  while  troops  are  pouring  in, 
with  the  beating  of  drums  and  bugle  calls,  impress  us  that  this  is  not 
a  safe  time  to  do  any  napping  while  on  duty.  When  our  squad  is 
placed  on  duty  I  find  myself  located  on  a  steep  hillside,  a  portion  of 
which  is  used  as  a  cemetery,  and  instructed  to  parade  back  and  forth 
from  a  gate  leading  into  these  grounds  to  a  certain  tombstone  a  few 
rods  distant,  then  given  instructions  in  the  manner  of  challenging 
anyone  approaching  my  station.  During  the  night  pickets  are  in- 
structed to  challenge  intruders  at  a  safe  distance  by  exclaiming. 
"Halt!  Who  comes  there?"  If  the  reply  comes;  "Friend  with  the 
countersign,"  the  picket  then  commands,  "Advance,  friend,  and  give 
the  countersign,"  which  must  be  given  over  the  point  of  the  sentinel's 
bayonet,  and  if  correct  the  person  or  persons  are  allowed  to  pass 
through  the  lines.  Should  the  intruder  be  without  pass  or  counter- 
sign he  is  held  by  the  sentinel  and  turned  over  to  the  corporal  and 
taken  to  headquarters  for  examination. 

In  obedience  to  orders  and  instruction  the  sentinel  becomes  au- 
tocrat over  the  station  he  occupies.  To  one  who  fails  to  respond  to 
his  challenge  to  halt,  and-withoot  further  parley  or  argument  he  is 
expected  to  shoot  down  the  intruder  regardless  of  the  latter's  station 
or  rank.  Should  he  find  it  necessary  to  do  this  the  sentinel's  act  will 
be  looked  upon  as  evidence  of  devotion  to  duty. 

The  hours  on  duty  for  our  relief  are  from  six  until  eight  o'clock 
p.  m.,  then  from  twelve  until  two  o'clock  a.  m.  The  first  "trick"  on 
duty  is  not  an  unpleasant  experience  though  it  seems  to  be  an  ex- 
citing time  with  the  bugle  calls,  beating  of  drums  and  loud  commands 
sounding  in  the  hills  bordering  the  river  and  adjoining  camps  where 
troops  are  taking  positions  on  the  line.  Finally  all  becomes  quiet 
save  the  croaking  of  frogs,  and  occasional  distant  baying  of  hounds, 

24 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

perhaps  on  the  trail  of  some  fugitive  slave.  Light  of  camp  fires  are 
also  seen  lighting  the  hill  tops. 

While  walking  our  stations  we  feel  a  measure  of  responsibility 
in  holding  the  enemy  at  bay  and  protecting  the  city  of  Cincinnati  and 
state  of  Ohio  from  invasion.  At  the  close  of  our  two  hours  on  duty 
we  are  relieved  by  the  second  relief  and  march  back  to  the  reserve 
where  pickets  on  each  relief  assemble  to  rest  and  sleep  during  their 
four  hours  off  duty.  We  now  prepare  beds  by  laying  rubber  ponchos 
on  the  ground,  then  with  knapsack  for  pillows  and  blanket  covering 
we  lay  down  for  rest  and  sleep.  We  are  almost  asleep  when  my 
chum  jumps  up  very  suddenly  and  yells  out  that  "some  d —  thing 
that  felt  like  an  icicle  ran  across  his  face."  I  indulge  in  a  hearty 
laugh  at  his  expense  but  did  not  mention  the  fact  that  his  sudden 
outburst  had  caused  a  momentary  panic  for  I  was  sure  the  enemy  was 
upon  us.  After  shak:ng  our  bedding  we  bunk  down  again  and  sleep 
until  twelve  o'clock,  then  are  awakened  by  the  corporal  and  return 
to  our  former  station  relieving  the  picket  who  has  served  out  his  two 
hours  on  duty.  Now  it  is  dark  and  quiet  and  the  weird  surroundings 
with  tombstones  on  all  sides  with  occasional  noises  heard  outside  the 
lines  the  situation  is  anything  but  pleasing.  A  little  relief  is  oc- 
casionally found  by  stopping  at  the  connecting  ends  of  our  stations 
for  short  chats  with  neighboring  pickets.  This  is  contrary  to  orders 
but  as  no  one  is  looking  and  cannot  see  us  if  they  are,  we  indulge  in 
these  brief  social  visits  which  seem  to  have  a  bracing  effect  amid 
these  doleful  surroundings.  Strange  noises  heard  outside  the  lines 
and  thoughts  of  the  enemy  creep'ng  upon  us  disturb  our  peace  of 
mind  somewhat.  Dread  of  firing  those  vicious  muskets  may  have 
saved  the  lives  of  cattle  or  horses  that  occasionally  create  a  disturb- 
ance in  adjoining  fields.  We  talk  over  the  situation,  my  neighbor 
picket  and  I,  he  then  informing  me  that  he  had  been  in  service  be- 
fore and  knows  I  am  but  a  very  raw  recruit.  He  then  goes  on  to  tell 
me  that  these  Austrian  muskets  are  what  is  known  as  repeating  guns 
and  the  repeat  is  noticed  as  soon  at  the  gun  is  fired.  Then  as  soon 
as  the  operator  regains  consciousness,"  he  says,  "he  can  repeat  the 
operation."  Of  course,  I  knew  he  was  "stringing  me"  but  didn't  let 
on  for  he  seems  to  take  delight  in  giving  information  and  always  has 
an  answer  to  every  question  asked  and  during  our  hours  on  duty  I 
gather  much  valuable  information  concerning  the  situation  of  the 
armies  now  defending  and  threatening  the  city.  He  seems  to  know 
the  exact  location  of  the  enemy  lines  and  number  of  forces  and 
has  the  time  set  for  the  great  battle  that  seems  near  at  hand  "Unless 
we  defeat  the  enemy"  he  says,  "we  will  be  driven  into  the  Ohio  river 
and  all  who  are  not  killed  will  be  drowned  for  there  is  only  one  nar- 
row pontoon  bridge  over  which  we  can  make  our  escape." 

He  now  goes  on  to  tell  me  about  his  military  experience  which 
began  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  when  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
ran  away  from  home  and  enlisted.  After  drilling  in  the  ranks  a  few 
weeks  his  mother  appeared  in  camp  and  secured  his  release  from 

25 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

the  army.  On  his  way  home  he  was  much  disturbed  over  the  re- 
ception his  dad  would  give  him.  He  felt  that  now  he  was  almost 
a  full  grown  man  and  had  been  in  military  service  it  was  unbecoming 
for  a  soldier  to  submit  to  the  "lickins"  he  had  been  accustomed  to 
receive  at  home.  He  goes  on  to  inform  me  that  his  dad  is  a  combina- 
tion farmer  and  Baptist  preacher  who  believes  that  a  free  use  of  the 
rod  and  baptism  by  immersion  are  the  only  means  of  salvation,  add- 
ing that  the  use  of  the  rod  on  some  one  of  the  boys  comes  about  as 
regular  as  morning  prayer;  that  this  expounder  of  Holy  writ  "can 
lick  harder  and  pray  louder  than  any  man  on  his  circuit."  As  soon 
as  they  reached  home  he  knew  by  the  set  of  dad's  jaw  what  was  com- 
ing, and  accepted  his  invitation  to  retire  to  the  barn.  The  boy  had 
fully  made  up  his  mind  to  scandalize  the  family  and  neighborhood  by 
giving  his  dad  a  good  dressing  down,  a  trimming  that  would  break  up 
the  governor's  rawhiding  habit.  He  believed  he  was  prepared  to  do 
this  job  for  while  in  camp  the  boys  had  been  practicing  the  art  of 
boxing  and  he  prided  himself  on  being  quite  handy  with  the  "mits." 
"The  first  time  dad  wrapped  the  blacksnake  whip  about  my  legs"  he 
says,  "I  landed  a  stiff  uppercut  on  his  jaw  that  staggered  him." 
"Here"  he  said  "is  where  I  made  a  mistake  for  dad  didn't  follow 
Queensberry  rules  but  just  cracked  me  over  the  head  with  the  butt 
of  the  blacksnake  and  then  changed  ends,  roared  like  a  bull  and  let  on 
more  steam  and  until  he  was  winded  the  noise  sounded  like  several 
men  were  on  that  barn  floor  threshing  out  oats  with  flails."  "I  tell 
you"  he  added,  "that  lickin  I  got  was  awful  but — 

"Halt!  Who  goes  there"  is  the  voice  of  a  sentinel  heard  far  down 
the  line.  We  don't  understand  this  for  it  isn't  time  for  the  next  re- 
lief. Some  one  passing  through  the  lines,  perhaps,  though  we  hear 
no  reply  to  the  sentinel's  challenge.  We  listen  intently,  fearing  the 
worst.  Not  another  word  or  movement  for  some  time  when  my 
neighbor  picket  ventures  to  whisper  that  he  does  not  understand  why 
this  disturbance.  It  must  be—  "Halt!  Who  goes  there,"  is  again 
heard  a  little  plainer  than  before.  We  hear  no  reply  to  this  chal- 
lenge, though  we  can  hear  men  talking.  We  faintly  hear  the  steady 
tramp  of  an  approaching  army  and  are  busily  and  quietly  discussing 
our  perilous  situation.  My  neighbor  picket,  who  is  familiar  with 
military  operations,  is  now  convinced  that  the  rebel  army  is  making 
prisoners  of  the  picket  line.  "The  enemy  is  slipping  upon  us,"  he 
says.  We  are  now  silent  and  panicky,  each  busy  with  his  own  dis- 
tressing thoughts.  Only  two  days  from  home  and  a  rebel  prison  now 
staring  us  in  the  face.  Yes,  we  would  be  tempted  to  sacrifice  all  the 
patriotism  we  now  possess  for  a  hiding  place  in  the  hay  mow  at  home. 
The  situation  is  certainly  alarming  yet  rather  than  go  to  prison  we 
decide  to  put  up  a  fight  and  let  the  Austrian  musket  do  its  worst. 
As  well  have  our  heads  knocked  off  with  these  "repeaters"  as  be 
sent  to  prison.  A  pair  of  very  "raw  material"  with  an  attack  of 
buck  fever  fortify  themselves  at  two  of  the  larger  tombstones  and 
prepare  for  battle.  My  neighbor  picket  now  reaches  inside  his  blouse 

26 


*Tfhf  \m&M 

A1 iS*    'iW\4 

U«r\*i  iKpJ 

Aft       H;  Jttlll 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

and  produced  a  "pepperbox"  revolver  he  brought  from  home  with  him, 
a  dangerous  looking  piece  of  artillery  resembling  a  car  pin,  and  about 
as  heavy.  The  struggle  is  now  at  hand  for  we  hear  the  tramp  of  the 
rebel  army  when :— "Halt !  who  goes  there"  is  heard  ;  another  challenge 
from  a  picket  not  far  distant.  Our  guns  are  quickly  pointed  in  the 
direction  of  this  noise  when- 

"Officer  of  the  day  with  the  grand  rounds,"  comes  the  reply  to  the 
picket's  challenge. 

"Advance,  officer  of  the  day  and  give  the  countersign,"  the  picket 
replies. 

Such  a  wonderful  transformation.  We  instantly  brace  up  and  hur- 
riedly take  our  stations  on  the  line,  bold  and  fearless.  We  are  in 
such  a  happy  frame  of  mind  we  challenge  the  grand  rounds  with 
commanding  voices  and  a  great  show  of  bravado. 

Grand  rounds  is  a  feature  in  military  service  we  know  nothing 
about,  but  when  the  officer's  reply  to  the  picket's  challenge  is  heard 
we  then  "caught  on"  and  the  grand  rounds  of  ten  men  more  is  saved. 
At  two  o'clock  we  are  relieved  and  return  to  the  picket  reserve  to 
bunk  down  for  the  remainder  of  the  night  or  until  six  o'clock. 

My  neighbor  picket,  who  is  versed  in  all  rules  and  customs  of 
warfare,  had  fully  made  up  his  mind  to  show  no  quarters  to  these 
rebels  if  they  were  sneaking  upon  us  in  the  way  he  suspected  for 
such  methods,  he  declared,  was  obtaining  prisoners  under  false  pre- 
tense, or  words  to  that  effect.  He  had  planned  to  get  as  good  aim 
on  the  rebel  lines  as  possible  in  the  darkness  hoping  to  kill  a  portion 
of  the  rebel  army,  then  with  "pepperbox"  in  one  hand  and  sword  bay- 
onet in  the  other  he  expected  to  "jump  in"  and  exterminate  the  whole 
bunch.  Then  he  hesitated  to  hear  my  plan  of  battle.  But  I  was 
sleepy  and  did  not  care  to  discuss  the  matter  and  did  not  feel  that  I 
was  called  upon  to  confess  that  I  was  more  concerned  in  what  the 
enemy  and  the  Austrian  musket  might  do  to  me.  I  probably  would 
have  fired  on  the  enemy  and  permitted  the  recoil  of  the  musket  to 
land  me  in  a  new  position  out  of  enemy  reach.  I  passed  off  to  sleep 
before  he  had  completed  the  annihilation  of  the  enemy,  satisfied  that 
my  neighbor  picket  had  other  accomplishments  aside  from  being  a 
military  strategist. 

Our  regiment  is  relieved  from  the  picket  line  on  the  evening  of 
September  4  and  we  return  to  camp  where  we  remain  performing 
picket  and  camp  duties  until  September  9.  Here  we  remain  without 
shelter,  but  the  weather  is  hot  and  dry  and  our  sleeping  quarters  are 
all  that  can  be  desired  in  warm,  dry  weather  although  beds  are  not 
soft  as  the  kind  mother  makes,  but  we  have  abundance  of  fresh  air 
and  mosquitoes. 

September  4,  while  at  this  camp,  David  Reichard  of  Lake 
township  is  placed  on  detached  service  as  teamster  where  he 
serves  during  his  entire  term  of  enlistment  and  is  mustered  out 
with  the  company  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

28 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

Richard  Mason,  ambulance  driver,  of  Marlboro  is  sent  to  the 
hospital  and  returns  to  the  company  for  duty  at  Frankfort,  Ky., 
January  1863.  From  here  he  is  again  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Lex- 
ington, Ky.,  from  where  he  is  discharged  April  following,  after 
two  months  service. 

September  5,  1862,  Ashur  Sandles  of  Marlboro  is  placed  on 
detached  service  as  teamster  where  he  remains  until  June  1863 
when  he  reported  to  the  company  for  duty  while  encamped  at  Mt. 
Vernon,  Ky.,  February  26,  1864,  he  is  again  detached  for  same  ser- 
vice, remaining  here  until  the  close  of  the  war  after  service  in  the 
ranks  of  seven  months. 


FORT  MITCHELL  KENTUCKY 


On  the  afternoon  of  September  9,  1862  we  are  ordered  in  line 
and  march  to  Fort  Mitchell,  K}-.,  a  distance  of  about  five  miles  down 
the  Lexington  pike.  On  the  morning  following  arrival  here,  we  are 
ordered  forward  and  bivouac  in  line  of  battle  fronting  the  enemy 
lines.  On  the  morning  of  September  11,  we  are  ordered  forward  on 
the  skirmish  line  and  while  deploying  along  a  rail  fence  we  are  fired 
upon  by  the  enemy  who  occupies  timberland  along  our  front.  Firing 
at  long  range  on  the  skirmish  line  continues  until  late  in  the  after- 
noon. 

During  this  engagement  William  Taylor  of  Marlboro  re- 
ceives a  gunshot  wound  through  his  bowels  and  is  carried  from  the 
field.  The  surgeon  pronounced  his  wound  fatal  and  gives  but  lit- 
tle attention  to  his  case,  all  expecting  Taylor  would  die  in  a  few 
hours.  Much  to  our  surprise  he  survives  throughout  the  day  and 
on  the  following  day  is  sent  to  the  hospital  in  Cincinnati  where 
he  finally  recovers  and  is  discharged  after  service  of  ten  days  in 
the  ranks. 

In  the  evening  an  armistice  is  agreed  upon  between  our  officers 
on  the  line  and  officers  commanding  the  rebel  skirmishers,  to  termin- 
ate at  nine  o'clock  on  the  following  morning  which  was  faithfully 
kept  by  both  parties  for  in  the  meantime  the  enemy  evacuates  his 
line  during  the  night  and  retreats  southward. 

During  this  skirmish  Elias  Haines  of  Marlboro,  shot  a  finger 
from  his  hand  while  drawing  a  load  from  his  gun.  After  recovery 
he  is  detailed  for  duty  with  the  supply  train  where  he  served  until 
December  29,  then  deserted  while  we  are  encamped  at  Richmond, 
Ky.  He  afterward  enlists  in  a  cavalry  regiment  and  serves  until 
discharged  from  the  army. 

In  this  engagement  the  regiment  loses  one  man  killed  and  five 
wounded.  As  before  stated  the  enemy  retreat  during  the  night  fol- 
lowing this  skirmish,  falling  back  along  the  Lexington  pike  and  is 
followed  by  our  cavalry,  bringing  in  a  number  of  prisoners. 

This  is  our  first  experience  under  fire  and  coming  within  ten  days 
after  leaving  home  and  with  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy  in  our  front 
indications  pointed  to  an  early  trial  of  our  metal.  As  the  hills  front- 
ing the  enemy  lines  are  now  well  covered  with  union  troops  with 

29 


Footprints  Through  Dixfe 

thousands  of  Squirrel  Hunters  well  fortified  on  the  Ohio  side  of  the 
river,  the  rebel  commander  seems  to  abandon  his  northern  raid  and! 
is  heading  his  forces  southward. 

We  go  into  camp  at  Fort  Mitchell  and  are  supplied  with  Sibley 
tents,  a  large  cone  shaped  tent  affording  room  for  a  dozen  men  or 
more.  Here  we  remain  fortifying  and  drilling  until  the  morning  of 
September  18,  1862,  when  we  march  forward  down  the  Lexington  pike 
i»  the  wake  of  the  retreating  enemy. 


CAMP  SNOW'S  POND 


After  a  two  days  march,  passing  through  Florence  and  Chitten- 
den,  Ky.,  we  arrive  at  Walton  and  go  into  camp  known  as  "Camp 
Snow's  Pond."  Here  we  pitch  tents  and  settle  down  to  hard  drills 
in  squads  and  by  companies,  and  occasionally  battallion  drill.  With 
oar  camp  guard  duties  and  on  the  picket  line  with  guard  mountings 
and  dress  parades-  we  are  surely  kept  busy  during  a  season  of  heat 
and  drouth. 

While  at  this  camp  Monroe  Whitmire  of  Lake  township  is 
detailed  as  guard  at  headquarters,  returning  to  the  company  for 
duty  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  October  25  following.  Whitmire  is  slight- 
ly wounded  at  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Term.,  November  30,  1864. 
after  thirty  three  months  faithful  service  in  the  ranks  he  is  dis- 
charged at  the  close  of  the  war. 

John  W.  Raber  of  Lake  township  is  sent  to  the  hospital  at 
this  camp  and  discharged  from  service  at  the  General  hospital 
in  January,  1863,  after  two  months  service  with  the  company. 

Our  brigade  is  now  placed  under  command  of  one  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral Judah,  a  runty  officer  of  the  regular  army,  one  who  cares  about 
as  much  for  the  health  and  comfort  of  men  in  the  ranks  as  he  would 
for  a  drove  of  animals.  This  martinet  has  issued  orders  forbidding 
soldiers  from  trespassing  on  private  property,  thus  shutting  us  away 
from  wells  and  springs  along  the  highway  or  near  our  camps  and 
severely  punishes  soldiers  who  violate  his  infamous  orders.  A  mem- 
ber of  our  company  is  picked  up  by  a  patrol  guard  for  trespassing 
and  for  this  great  crime  he  is  placarded  on  the  back  with  the  word 
"thief"  and  drummed  before  the  regiment  to  the  tune  of  the  "Rogues 
March." 

Fowler  and  I  pick  up  a  few  apples  from  under  trees  along  the 
roadside  and  for  this  great  crime  are  yanked  up  before  Judah  who 
calls  us  about  everything  except  nice  boys.  Of  course  it  is  our  duty 
to  stand  and  take  all  this  without  an  opportunity  to  say  a  word  in 
defense  or  argue  the  case  for  to  do  this  would  only  invite  additional 
trouble.  During  this  interview  we  take  the  abuse  patiently,  mean- 
time sizing  up  the  bombastic  "nubbin."  We  find  that  if  Judah  was 
divested  of  immense  shoulder  straps,  buttons,  badges  and  other  dec- 
orations there  is  but  little  left  except  a  hooked  nose  and  mass  of  black 

30 


-Footprints  Through  Dixie 

3cinky  hair,  yet  he  is  now  a  striking  reminder  of  a  premium  Jersey 
bull  at  a  county  fair. 

Judah  has  headquarters  in  a  fine  old  plantation  mansion  that  is 
said  to  be  occupied  by  a  rebel  claiming  loyalty  to  the  Union,  and 
protection  for  his  property.  With  his  fine  old  whiskey  it  is  said  that 
he  keeps  Judah  keyed  up  to  a  savage  point  ready  to  inflict  punish- 
ment upon  soldiers  for  slight  or  imaginary  offense.  Boys  are  threat- 
ening to  shoot  the  tyrant  and  have  laid  in  secret  places  to  bushwhack 
him  but  he  displays  good  generalship  in  movements  for  his  own  safe- 
ty. 

While  Judah's  infamous  orders  are  being  issued  and  enforced 
Colonel  Reilly  is  having  considerable  trouble  in  smothering  his 
wrath.  The  limit  is  finally  reached  when  the  colonel  in  passing  down 
the  line  finds  that  two  of  his  men  have  been  ordered  bucked  and 
gagged  by  the  detestable  Judah. 

Reilly  now  roars  out  an  order  to  the  captain  of  the  company  to 
which  these  men  belong  to  release  them  at  once,  and  on  learning  by 
whose  order  this  punishment  is  inflicted  he  immediately  goes  on  the 
hunt  of  Judah.  When  Reilly  becomes  maddened  clear  through  he  ranks 
everybody.  The  Irishman  soon  corners  the  Jew  and  the  line  of  cuss 
words  he  fires  at  the  latter  convinces  all  within  hearing  of  the  colonel's 
voice  that  he  is  mighty  haudy  in  delivery  of  this  line  of  elocution, 
winding  up  his  tirade  with  a  threat  that  he  will  let  daylight  through 
the  Jew's  hide  if  he  ever  repeats  such  tyranny  in  the  colonel's  regi- 
ment. Reilly  carried  the  map  of  old  Ireland  right  under  the  brim  of 
his  cap,  including  the  galway  whiskers.  When  in  anger  or  deep  earn- 
est he  has  a  penetrating  voice  and  piercing  eye  that  strikes  terror  to 
the  object  of  attack.  The  burley  and  brainy  son  of  the  Emerald  Isle 
with  his  bushy  head  and  characteristic  wabble  of  the  race,  now  under 
high  pressure,  seems  to  have  scared  all  the  fight  from  Judah,  so  the 
"interview"  ends  in  a  war  of  words  and  gestures  between  the  Irish- 
man and  the  Jew.  Reilly  is  probably  the  only  colonel  in  the  Union 
army  who  can  cuss  a  brigadier  general  and  get  away  with  it,  for  it 
seems  that  Judah  never  entered  complaint. 

Kentucky  has  not  seceded  from  the  Union,  yet  it  is  thickly 
honeycombed  with  rebels  who  demand  protection  of  their  property 
and  our  officers  are  instructed  to  forbid  trespassing  upon  private 
property.  This  order  has  given  Judah  an  opportunity  to  exercise  his 
tyrannical  nature.  It  seems  that  both  Judah  and  these  disloyal  cit- 
izens enjoy  seeing  soldiers  suffer  for  the  want  of  water  during  this 
season  of  drouth. 

Water  in  the  ponds  where  supply  for  cooking  is  obtained  is  so 
vile  that  we  are  obliged  to  boil  and  skim  it  before  using  for  coffee  or 
cooking  beans  and  meat.  A  green  scum  covers  a  portion  of  the  pond 
where  tadpoles,  frogs  and  wigglers  are  abundant.  We  are  suffering 
for  the  want  of  drinking  water  and  boys  are  making  wild  threats 
against  the  tyrant  commanding  our  brigade.  We  make  quite  free  to 

31 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

violate  these  orders  that  drinking  water  may  be  had  and  take  our  pun- 
ishment when  caught.  A  small  spring  is  finally  found  in  a  woods 
about  a  mile  from  camp  where  soldiers  are  lined  up  day  and  night 
awaiting  their  turn  to  fill  canteens  or  quench  their  thirst. 

During  our  stay  here  we  are  kept  busy  in  all  the  drills  known  in 
infantry  tactics  and  during  the  night  are  frequently  called  out  by 
panicky  cavalry  pickets  who  like  the  Camp  Rough  pickets  draw  on 
their  imagination  when  danger  is  suspected.  On  one  occasion  the  en- 
tire brigade  is  called  out  at  midnight  in  defense  against  a  few 
calves  that  awakened  and  drew  the  fire  from  cavalry  pickets 
while  these  calves  were  frolicking  through  the  brush.  We  seldom 
fail  to  give  those  cavalrymen  the  call  of  the  calf  when  they  pass  by. 

The  vile  water  we  are  using  is  now  getting  in  its  work.  Many 
are  becoming  afflicted  with  bowel  trouble  and  typhoid  fever  and  are 
sent  to  hospitals,  myself  among  the  number.  The  more  severe  cases 
are  sent  back  to  the  General  Hospital  at  Cincinnati,  while  others  are 
left  at  the  field  hospital  and  moved  along  in  ambulances  as  the  com- 
mand moves  southward. 

October  6,  we  are  gratified  to  learn  that  Judah  has  been  removed 
from  command  and  is  superseded  by  General  Burbridge  who  now 
commands  our  brigade.  During  my  illness  with  typhoid  fever  the 
command  moves  forward  to  Camp  A.  J.  Smith,  remaining  here  until 
October  12,  then  onward  to  Camp  Wells.  Here  it  remains  until  Oc- 
tober 17,  then  advances  to  Camp  Jones,  and  remains  until  October 
20,  then  forward  passing  through  Georgetown  and  on  to  Lexing- 
ton, Ky.,  where  it  arrives  October  22.  During  this  forward  move- 
ment the  sick  in  the  overloaded  ambulances  are  suffering  and  a  num- 
ber are  dying  for  want  of  proper  care  and  treatment. 

Rebel  cavalry  is  operating  in  our  front  while  watching  our  move- 
ments as  they  retreat  southward. 

At  Camp  Wells  we  are  introduced  to  another  pest,  a  little  less 
severe,  perhaps,  than  Judah,  but  with  better  staying  qualities,  the  in- 
destructible and  prolific  grayback.  As  a  stayer  his  equal  cannot  be 
found.  At  night  time  he  marches  in  battle  array  over  the  soldier's 
body  drawing  sustenance  therefrom.  The  biting  frosts  of  winter  or 
torrid  heat  of  southern  midsummers  disturb  him  not,  and  at  roll  call 
he  is  ever  present  for  duty.  As  the  rebel  army  recently  occupied  this 
camp  ground  it  is  believed  we  have  fallen  heir  to  a  portion  of  their 
property.  All  attempts  to  keep  clear  of  the  new  enemy  ends  in  fail- 
ure. Clothing  is  boiled  and  treated  in  many  ways,  but  in  a  few  hours 
they  or  others  are  back  on  the  job. 

September  25,  1862,  Lieutenant  Frank  Perdue  of  Paris  town- 
ship is  placed  on  detached  service  in  the  Ordnance  department. 
He  remained  in  this  service  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  is 
mustered  out  after  twenty  days  duty  with  his  company. 

October  21,  Sergeant  Oliver  Coates  of  Marlboro  is  sent  to 
the  hospital,  returning  for  duty  November  11  following.  March 

32 


«V.V.. 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

22,  1863,  he  is  again  sent  to  the  hospital  where  he  died  April  5 
following,  after  six  months  service  with  his  company. 

October  31,  Thomas  Barnes  of  Paris  township  is  detailed  for 
guard  duty  at  brigade  headquarters,  returning  to  the  company 
November  17,  and  is  appointed  corporal,  soon  after  being  appoint- 
ed color  guard  where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war  and 
is  mustered  out  with  the  company. 

In  spite  of  rough  treatment  while  moving  from  camp  to  camp 
in  an  ambulance,  and  neglect  on  the  part  of  nurses,  I  am  able  to 
report  for  duty  November  10. 

The  day  following  our  arrival  at  Lexington  we  move  camp  to 
higher  ground  south  of  the  city.  We  are  now  placed  under  command 
of  Colonel  Gilbert,  who  has  relieved  General  Burbridge,  the  former 
an  officer  of  the  regular  army,  who  now  commands  our  brigade  con- 
sisting of  the  Forty-fourth,  One  Hundredth  and  One  Hundred  and 
Fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Nineteenth  Battery  and  Tenth  Ken- 
tucky Cavalry.  Here  Gilbert  enforces  very  strict  discipline.  We  are 
now  ordered  to  fall  out  under  arms  at  morning  roll  call,  fully 
equipped  for  march  or  battle  should  necessity  require  either  move- 
ment. At  the  close  of  roll  call  we  are  drilled  twenty  minutes  before 
breakfast.  This  is  all.  Gilbert  can't  think  of  any  other  punishment 
to  inflict  until  after  breakfast.  In  addition  to  our  other  duties  we 
are  drilled  six  hours  each  day  with  one  hour  for  dinner.  This  fall- 
ing out  at  roll  call  under  arms  and  knapsacks  starts  groans  of  pro- 
test among  the  boys — but  not  in  Gilbert's  presence.  Occasionally  a 
boy  or  two  takes  chances  on  another  nap  at  morning  roll  call  and 
fail  to  line  up  with  the  company.  The  first  offense  generally  draws  a 
little  extra  duty.  If  this  does  not  effect  a  cure  the  offender  is  some- 
times permitted  to  carry  a  rail  or  well  loaded  knapsack  for  a  few 
hours  with  a  guard  following  along  to  protect  him  and  see  that  he 
keeps  in  motion.  Standing  on  a  barrel  for  a  few  hours  is  not  a 
favorite  way  among  the  boys  of  paying  off  the  debt  because  this 
prominent  position  attracts  too  much  attention  and  too  many  remarks 
from  passing  comrades  who  frequently  call  for  a  speech  or  a  song. 
Continued  disobedience  sometimes  brings  a  long  guardhouse  sent- 
ence with  hard  labor  or  court-martial  with  loss  of  pay.  The  guard 
house  is  usually  occupied  by  one  or  more  disobedient  boys. 

Each  morning  a  certain  number  of  men  are  detailed  for  guard  and 
picket  duty,  usually  from  two  to  four  from  each  company.  These 
details  with  a  corporal  or  sergeant  report  to  the  adjutant  at  regi- 
mental headquarters  and  guard  mounting  follows.  Each  detachment 
is  then  sent  to  stations  assigned.  Pickets  forming  the  outer  line  of 
guards  are  placed  a  mile  or  more  from  camp.  If  attack  from  the 
enemy  is  expected  the  pickets  are  deployed  as  skirmishers  and  cover 
the  entire  grounds  surrounding  the  army,  otherwise  they  are  placed 
in  squads  of  four  or  more  on  all  roads  leading  to  camp.  On  approach 
of  the  enemy,  pickets  are  expected  to  give  an  alarm  and  hold  the 
enemy  in  check  as  long  as  possible  thus  enabling  the  forces  to  get  in 
position  to  give  battle.  Camp  guards  are  deployed  surrounding  the 

34 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

camps  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  forces,  walking  a  station  or 
"beat"  of  ten  rods  or  more.  These  camp  guards  are  instructed  to 
keep  soldiers  within  range  of  their  quarters  unless  provided  with 
passes,  and  during  the  night  none  are  allowed  to  pass  without  giving 
the  countersign.  Guards  and  pickets  serve  on  duty  twenty  four 
hours,  and  each  sentinel  on  duty  two  hours  and  off  duty  four  hours. 
At  the  end  of  twenty  four  hours  all  are  relieved  by  other  details  and 
return  to  camp  and  are  excused  from  duty  twelve  hours. 

The  first  death  in  the  company  is  that  of  Joseph  Holibaugh 
of  Marlboro.  On  the  morning  of  November  28,  after  coming  off 
guard  duty  he  walked  to  the  company  cook's  quarters  and  while 
standing  there  he  suddenly  and  without  warning  fell  forward  into 
the  fire.  He  is  quickly  removed  by  comrades  and  the  surgeon  is 
called,  who  pronounced  his  death  due  to  apoplexy.  Comrade  Holi- 
baugh's  body  is  sent  to  his  home  and  buried  near  the  village  of 
Marlboro. 

At  the  same  time  Peter  Seacrist,  fifer  of  Marlboro,  is  sent  to 
the  hospital  where  he  died  December  18,  1862.  His  body  was 
sent  to  his  home  and  buried  at  Marlboro. 

November  17,  Captain  Jesse  Coates  of  Marlboro  is  discharged 
from  service  on  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability,  after  three 
months  service  with  his  company. 

Lieutenant  Perdue,  though  absent  on  detached  service  is  now 
commissioned  captain  of  the  company  and  Second  Lieutenant  South- 
worth  is  commissioned  first  lieutenant.  These  changes  bring  Or- 
derly Sergeant  Nelson  in  line  for  promotion  when  he  is  commissioned 
second  lieutenant.  Corporal  Henry  Vick  is  then  appointed  orderly 
sergeant  over  the  heads  of  several  ranking  non-commissioned  officers. 
This  appointment  is  a  surprise  to  members  of  the  company  and  is 
believed  to  be  an  act  of  injustice  to  others  among  the  non-commis- 
sioned staff  who  are  amply  fitted  to  fill  the  place  of  orderly  sergeant. 

November  15,  1862,  Lewis  B.  Slack  of  Paris  township  is  sent 
to  the  hospital,  returning  to  the  company  for  duty  December 
27  following.  January  30,  1864  he  is  detailed  for  guard  duty 
at  brigade  headquarters  and  returned  March  9,  following.  March 
13  he  is  again  placed  on  this  duty,  returning  to  the  company  Sep- 
tember IS,  while  the  command  is  encamped  at  Decatur,  Ga.  He 
was  mustered  out  with  the  company  at  the  close  of  the  war  after 
twenty-four  months'  service. 

At  this  camp  a  negro  slave,  called  Andy,  deserted  his  master  and 
is  adopted  by  our  mess  as  private  quartermaster.  He  is  allowed  to 
occupy  our  tent  much  to  the  annoyance  of  Taggart  who  disliked 
"niggers"  as  much  as  he  disliked  soldiering,  yet  our  private  q.  m. 
soon  became  the  most  popular  man  in  the  mess.  The  supplies  he 
gathered  in  are  obtained  at  plantations  adjoining  our  camps,  usually 
during  the  dark  of  the  moon.  A  "stand  in"  with  a  camp  guard  pass- 
es him  through  the  lines  at  night  and  often  when  we  awake  in  the 
morning  we  find  hams,  chickens,  honey  and  other  delicacies  to  add 
to  our  bill  of  fare.  We  are  very  devoted  to  Andy,  and  he  grows  more 
popular  every  day  until  an  order  is  issued  forbidding  slaves  within 
the  lines;  also  that  all  slaves  now  within  our  lines  must  be  deliv- 
ered to  their  masters  if  called  for,  or  expelled  from  our  camps.  This 

35 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

order  brings  protests  from  officers  who  have  employed  these  slaves 
as  hostlers,  cooks,  etc.  To  our  mess  the  idea  of  falling  back  on 
plain  army  rations  brings  forth  lamentations.  Even  Taggart,  who 
persecutes  Andy  because  of  the  former's  rheumatism  and  his  dislike 
of  his  colored  brother,  is  disheartened.  We  determine  not  to  be  en- 
tirely outflanked  by  this  unpopular  order,  however,  so  as  soon  as 
darkness  sets  in  we  load  our  private  quartermaster  with  a  haversack 
of  rations  and  revolver,  then  point  out  the  North  Star  as  a  beacon 
to  lead  him  to  liberty,  bid  him  goodbye  and  good  luck.  The  slave 
was  not  heard  from  afterward. 

Our  time  at  this  camp  is  crowded  with  camp  duties  and  constant 
drill.  First  comes  reveille,  then  roll  call  not  forgetting  the  twenty 
minutes  before  breakfast  drill.  Then  comes  sick  call  to  which  the 
boys  have  supplied  the  words,  in  part  as  follows: —  "Are  you  sick- 
sick,  are  you  sick-sick,  come  and  get  your  quinine  or  else  go  and 
drill,"  etc. 

Then  comes  guard  mounting  followed  by  three  hours'  drill,  fol- 
lowed by  dinner  and  three  hours'  drill  in  the  afternoon;  then  dress 
parade,  supper  and  roll  call,  ending  with  tattoo  and  all  must  become 
quiet.  Sunday  inspection  and  religious  services.  This  is  the  order 
of  the  day,  weather  permitting.  While  resting  (?)  we  clean  our 
guns  and  accoutrements.  Discipline  severe,  but  not  of  the  Judah 
type.  We  are  taking  orders  from  an  exacting  regular  army  officer. 
Just  what  we  need,  perhaps,  but  we  don't  see  it  that  way.  Ritchey 
is  delighted  with  the  discipline  and  his  first  steady  job  and  the  boys 
call  him  names  in  variety.  Reilly's  wabbly  head  and  pointed  repri- 
mands alarm  delinquent  boys.  Delinquent  officers,  including  the 
chaplain,  get  their's  just  the  same.  Reilly  is  no  respecter  of  persons 
when  the  pressure  is  on.  Weeding  out  of  the  ranks  goes  on  by  rea- 
son of  sickness  and  discharge  from  service  of  soldiers  who  are  un- 
able to  perform  duty.  Soldiers  in  the  ranks  can't  resign  but  a  num- 
ber of  officers  are  taking  advantage  of  this  privilege.  A  few  soldiers 
to  whom  the  strenuous  duties  of  military  service  is  distasteful  resort 
to  all  manner  of  schemes  to  secure  discharge  or  positions  on  de- 
tached service.  Schneid  is  a  type  of  soldier  whose  infirmities  cannot 
be  detected  by  the  examining  surgeons.  Schneid  and  the  surgeon 
disagree  on  the  surgeon's  diagnosis  of  the  former's  ailment.  The 
surgeon  says  he  has  no  authority  to  discharge  men  afflicted  with 
chronic  weariness  or  absolute  worthlessness,  but  thinks  this  should 
be  allowed  for  the  good  of  the  service.  Schneid  also  complains  to 
the  cook  because  of  the  small  amount  of  rations  given  him.  His  dai- 
ly complaints  of  both  cook  and  the  surgeon  becomes  a  byword  in 
camp.  Boys  in  the  company  who  have  attempted  to  diagnose 
Schneid's  malady  and  have  noted  his  habits  and  symptoms  cannot 
agree.  The  cook  feels  quite  sure  that  he  has  been  foundered,  while 
Ritchey  believes  Schneid  is  afflicted  with  hog  cholera.  After  the 
first  pay  day,  Schneid  deserts  the  army  and  is  allowed  to  go  in  peace 
for  a  tracer  never  followed  him. 

37 


Schneid  answers  all  dinner  and  quinine  calls 


CHAPTER  II. 


RICHMOND,  TO  MT.  VERNON,  KY. 


December  10  marching  orders  are  issued  and  we  are  on  the  pike 
a  little  after  midnight  heading  southward  and  arrive  at  Clay's  Ferry 
on  the  Kentucky  river  and  go  in  camp.  We  pass  Ashland,  the  Clay 
homestead,  now  owned  by  an  officer  in  the  rebel  army.  Here  at  the 
cross  roads  we  see  sale  bills  posted  announcing  public  sales  of  ne- 
groes. "Likely  wenches  and  desirable  field  hauds"  on  easy  terms  are 
offered  to  the  highest  bidder.  Other  bills  with  flaming  headlines 
offer  liberal  rewards  for  arrest  and  detention  of  runaway  slaves,  with 
all  ear  marks  and  brands  carefully  described.  At  the  head  of  these 
bills  are  pictures  showing  the  fugitive  with  bundle  swung  over  his 
shoulder. 


RICHMOND,  KENTUCKY 


On  the  following  morning  we  continue  the  march  to  Richmond, 
Kentucky  where  we  camp  near  the  village.  During  our  march  over 
the  heights  bordering  the  Kentucky  river  outlines  of  the  Cumberland 
mountains  are  plainly  seen.  Our  time  here  is  occupied  in  building 
fortifications  near  the  field  where  our  forces  were  defeated  last  Au- 
gust. Word  comes  from  home  that  friends  are  sending  us  a  large 
box  of  clothing,  together  with  a  supply  of  good  eatables  for  a  Christ- 
mas dinner. 

Two  new  regiments  of  infantry  have  been  added  to  our  brigade 
and  join  us  on  this  march  from  Lexington,  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twelfth  Illinois  and  Twelfth  Kentucky. 

This  cold  wintry  weather  and  diseases  due  to  exposure  found 
necessary  in  active  military  service  is  thinning  out  the  ranks,  sending 
many  who  are  physically  unable  to  meet  these  conditions  to  hospi- 
tals. 

On  leaving  Lexington,  John  Barnett  of  Plain  township  is  left 
sick  at  the  hospital,  returning  for  duty  at  Frankfort,  Ky.,  Janu- 
ary 25,  1863.  At  Knoxville,  Tenn.  he  served  a  short  time  with  the 
pioneer  corps.  With  the  exception  of  this  short  absence  he  serv- 
ed his  entire  term  of  enlistment  with  the  company  and  is  mus- 
tered out  at  the  close  of  the  war  after  thirty-two  months'  service. 
John  is  one  to  whom  short  rations  is  a  sore  trial,  for  when 
the  opportunity  is  given  he  fries  three  or  four  of  the  No.  1  sized 
hardtacks  in  sowbelly  grease  then  with  the  bacon,  pan  of  beans 
and  quart  of  black  coffee  he  makes  out  a  fairly  good  meal  if 
nothing  else  is  handy.  John  frequently  visits  the  sutler  and  in- 
vests his  thirty-six  and  two-third  cents  daily  salary  in  pigs  feet 

39 


Dark  Mulatto,  weight  about  160  Ibs., 

height  5  feet,  10  inches.    Scars  on  head  and  back. 

$25  REWARD. 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

as  a  side  dish.  In  spite  of  all  this  John  lives  to  see  the  end  of 
the  war  and  now,  (1919)  is  one  of  the  few  survivors  of  the  com- 
pany, hale  and  hearty  and  apparently  as  sound  as  a  hound's  tooth. 

December  19  Joseph  Spangler  of  Plain  township  is  sent  to 
the  hospital  from  where  he  is  discharged  on  surgeon's  certificate 
of  disability,  after  three  months'  service  in  the  ranks. 

John  Taggart  of  Paris  township  and  William  Snyder  of  Marl- 
boro township  are  sent  to  the  hospital  from  where  they  are  dis- 
charged January,  1863,  after  three  months'  service  with  the  com- 
pany. 

William  Little  of  Damascus,  Ohio,  is  sent  to  the  hospital  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  discharged  after  four  months'  service. 

December  29,  Abram  Hoover  of  Plain  township  is  sent  to 
the  hospital,  returning  for  duty  at  Mt.  Vernon.  Ky.  May  1,  1863. 
September  28,  following,  he  is  detailed  as  nurse  at  the  hospital 
in  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  wtiere  he  died  April  3,  1864,  after  eight 
months'  service  with  his  company. 

January  1,  1863,  John  W.  Stevenson  of  Marlboro  is  detailed 
as  orderly  at  brigade  headquarters,  returning  to  the  company 
March  28  following.  April  4,  while  encamped  at  Crab  Orchard, 
Ky.,  he  is  sent  to  the  hospital  and  returns  for  duty  at  Mt.  Ver- 
non, Ky.,  June  30.  August  15,  1864  he  is  again  sent  to  the  hospital 
from  in  front  of  Atlanta,  returning  to  the  company  for  duty  Sep- 
tember 18  following.  After  service  in  the  ranks  of  twenty-seven 
months  he  is  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

December  24.  1862,  David  B.  Newhouse  of  Marlboro  is  ap- 
pointed corporal.  He  is  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Re- 
saca,  Ga.,  May  14,  1864.  March  18,  1865  he  is  sent  to  the  hospital 
at  Kinston,  N.  C.,  from  where  he  is  discharged  May  4  following, 
after  thirty-one  months'  service  in  the  ranks. 

While  at  this  camp  Surgeon  K.  G.  Thomas  and  Major  L.  D. 
Woodworth  resign  and  return  to  their  homes. 

No  word  received  from  the  box  sent  from  home  which  should 
have  reached  us  before  Christmas.  It  is  said  that  these  boxes  fre- 
quently fall  into  hands  of  surgeons  at  hospitals  where  contents  are 
appropriated  under  pretense  of  using  for  the  sick  and  it  is  quite 
probable  our  box  has  been  disposed  of  in  this  way,  much  to  the  de- 
light of  surgeons  and  hospital  attendants. 

December  29,  1862  we  received  our  first  pay  for  three  months' 
service,  amounting  to  thirty-three  dollars  for  each  man.  During  the 
night  following  a  number  of  men  desert  the  regiment  and  among 
these  are  five  members  of  Company  "B".  Under  the  president's  proc- 
lamation issued  a  few  months  later,  pardoning  deserters  who  return 
to  their  commands  within  a  certain  time,  one  of  these  members  of 
our  company  returns  and  serves  faithfully  until  his  death.  Another 
enlists  in  a  cavalry  regiment  from  where  he  receives  an  honorable 
discharge.  During  three  months  following  these  desertions  their 
names  are  called  at  roll  call  as  usual,  when  a  sergeant  responds  as 
follows:  ''Cowardly  deserter;  deserted  Camp  Richmond,  Ky.,  De- 
cember 29,  1862." 

December  30  the  bugle  sounds  "strike  tents"  and  we  are  soon  on 
the  pike  headed  westward  arriving  at  Danville,  Ky.  on  the  evening 
of  the  31st  We  notice  that  boys  in  other  companies  are  yet  enjoy- 
ing some  of  the  delicacies  sent  in  their  Christmas  boxes.  Many  are 

41 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

provided  with  warm  mittens  and  gloves  and  other  clothing  to  make 
them  comfortable  during  this  wintry  weather. 


FRANKFORT,  KENTUCKY 


We  remain  in  camp  at  Danville  during  a  few  cold  and  disagreea- 
ble days  then  on  January  4,  1863  our  march  is  continued  to  Frankfort, 
Kentucky,  where  we  arrive  on  the  evening  of  January  7  and  camp 
near  the  city.  During  our  stay  here  the  weather  is  wintry  and  con- 
siderable snow  falls.  Companies  "D"  and  "K"  under  command  of 
Captain  Jordan  are  sent  to  guard  bridges  over  the  Kentucky  river 
while  the  other  companies  of  the  regiment  are  performing  provost 
duty  in  the  city  with  Colonel  Reilly  as  provost  marshal.  But  little 
drilling  is  done  here,  our  camp  and  provost  duty  with  snow  clad 
camping  grounds  saving  us  from  much  of  these  tiresome  drills.  When 
the  weather  is  favorable  we  have  a  little  target  practice  with  our 
new  Enfield  rifles  for  which  we  were  pleased  to  exchange  our  vicious 
Austrian  muskets.  Here  for  the  first  and  last  time  whiskey  rations 
are  issued  but  these  rations  are  not  dangerously  large  and  no  harm 
is  noticed. 

While  at  this  camp  Robert  Whitaker  of  Marlboro  is  detailed 
as  nurse  at  the  hospital  in  the  city,  returning  to  the  company  for 
duty  May  5,  following.  While  encamped  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Ky.  Au- 
gust 5,  he  was  granted  a  furlough  for  fifteen  days  and  returned  to 
the  company,  September  10,  at  Cumberland  Gap,  Tenn.  August  6, 
1864  he  is  sent  to  the  hospital  from  in  front  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  re- 
turning to  the  company  at  Nashville,  Tenn..  December  3,  1864. 
He  is  mustered  out  with  the  company  at  the  close  of  the  war 
after  twenty  four  months  service  in  the  ranks. 

Secession  sentiment  in  strong  in  the  city  where  a  rebel  governor 
was  inaugurated  but  a  few  weeks  ago,  but  since  that  time  the  gover- 
nor and  other  state  officials  have  moved  and  the  affairs  of  the  com- 
monweath  seem  to  be  all  balled  up,  though  members  of  the  legis- 
lature seem  to  be  on  duty  and  are  closely  watched  by  federal  officials. 

February  21,  Sergeant  Philip  Triem  of  Marlboro  is  sent  to 
hospital  at  Frankfort,  Ky.,  returning  to  the  company  for  duty  at 
Crab  Orchard,  Ky.,  April  9,  following.  June  24  he  is  granted  a  fur- 
lough of  fifteen  days  and  returned  to  the  company  July  24.  Sep- 
tember 8,  1864,  at  Decatur,  Ga.,  he  is  appointed  orderly  sergeant. 
After  service  with  his  company  of  thirty  one  months  he  is  mus- 
tered out  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

Elias  J.  Clark  of  Paris  township  is  left  sick  at  Frankfort,  Ky., 
February  21,  1863,  returning  to  the  company  for  duty  August  1 
following  at  Camp  "Dick,"  Ky.  September  15, 1863  he  is  again  left 
sick  at  the  hospital  in  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  where  he  died  January  16, 
1864,  after  six  months  service  with  his  company. 

Joseph  Minier  of  Marlboro  is  left  sick  at  Frankfort,  Ky., 
where  he  died  March  9,  1863,  after  six  months  service  with  his 
company. 

While  at  this  camp  Lieutenant  Colonel  Mariner  and  Chaplain 
Dallas  are  discharged  from  service.  This  sudden  departure  is  a  sub- 

42 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 


ject   of   considerable  discussion  among  the  soldiers.     If  anyone   re- 
gretted their  departure,  they  did  not  make  it  known. 

February  6,  1863,  George  Haynam  of  Paris  township  is  detail- 
ed as  ambulance  driver  where  he  served  until  June  following 
when  he  reported  to  the  company  for  duty.  November  30,  1864 
he  is  killed  at  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn.  During  a  lull  at 
the  time  of  this  engagement  his  brothers  Thomas  and  William 
with  the  aid  of  comrades  dig  a  shallow  grave  for  the  body  from, 
where  it  is  taken  after  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  sent  to 
New  Franklin,  Ohio,  for  burial. 

While  encamped  near  the  capital  city  of  Kentucky  the  legislature 
is  in  session.  A  detail  of  men  from  the  regiment  is  sent  to  the  state 
house  where  a  few  guards  are  left  outside,  while  the  others  with  bayo- 
nets fixed  follow  the  commander  of  the  squad  into  the  building.  When 
the  legislative  chamber  of  these  lawmakers  (or  law  breakers)  is 
entered  they  do  not  wait  for  a  motion  to  adjourn  but  hurriedly  leave 
from  all  doors,  a  few  being  arrested.  It  is  reported  that  this  as- 
sembly was  called  for  the  purpose  of  taking  some  action  toward 
voting  the  state  out  of  the  Union. 

February  2,  1863,  Albert  Davis  of  Paris  township  is  sent  to 
the  hospital,  returning  to  the  company  for  duty  at  Camp  "Dick" 
Kentucky,  August  4,  following.  December  6,  1863  he  is  again  sent 
to  the  hospital  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  where  he  remained  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  having  served  nine  months  on  duty  with  the 
company. 


FROM  FRANKFORT  TO  CRAB  ORCHARD 


February  21,  1863  we  leave  Frankfort  in  light  order  and  after  a 
short  march  we  find  quarters  in  a  large  academy  building.  Very 
early  on  the  following  morning  we  start  out  and  celebrate  Wash- 
ingtin's  birthday  anniversary  by  making  a  march  of  thirty  fniles  on 
the  pike  leading  to  Danville  and  late  in  the  evening  camp  near  Har- 
rodsburg,  Ky.  During  the  day  snow  was  falling  and  melting  as  it 
fell,  leaving  the  pike  in  bad  condition  for  this  long  trying  march. 
When  we  halt  for  the  night  and  stack  our  arms  it  is  found  that  about 
one  fourth  of  the  company  had  fallen  by  the  wayside.  During  the 
night  these  stragglers  were  dropping  into  camp,  being  hauled  in  wag- 
ons and  ambulances.  It  is  noticed  at  roll  call  that  many  of  the  big 
husky  fellows  were  missing  while  the  young  wiry  boys  from  the 
farms  answer  to  their  names.  The  march  was  a  severe  test  of  phys- 
ical endurance  made,  we  are  told,  to  meet  a  threatened  raid  by  rebel 
cavalry.  When  a  detail  for  picket  is  made,  it  is  my  misfortune  to  be 
one  of  the  number.  This  is  tough  luck  but  there  is  no  help  for  it 
and  no  one  has  offered  to  take  my  place,  though  I  am  generous 
enough  to  give  it  up.  Footsore  and  alone  in  the  darkness,  four  hours 
are  spent  during  this  dreary  chilling  night,  almost  too  tired  and  foot- 
sore to  stand  during  these  hours  on  duty.  An  attack  from  rebel  cav- 
alry is  looked  for  and  pickets  are  frequently  visited  by  officers  mak- 

43 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

ing  the  rounds  to  see  that  all  are  vigilant  in  performing  their  duties. 
At  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  our  squad  is  relieved  and  return  to 
the  reserve  station  at  a  toll  gate  on  the  pike.  On  removing  shoes 
and  socks  my  toes  are  found  worn  raw  at  the  ends  and  bleeding  and 
now  dried  fast  to  my  socks.  This  trying  experience  was  shared  by 
many  during  this  hard  march.  I  have  fallen  victim  to  a  "dodger,"  a 
few  of  whom  are  found  in  every  regiment  in  the  service.  They  have 
studied  the  art  and  in  various  ways  impose  their  duties  upon  others, 
and  continue  the  practice  until  they  either  dodge  out  of  the  army  by 
desertion  or  dodge  into  some  soft  snap  where  the  dodging  is  easier. 
Details  for  duty  are  made  in  alphabetical  order  and  by  watching  the 
run  of  these  details  made  by  the  orderly,  then  by  dropping  out  of 
ranks,  feigning  sickness,  or  in  other  ways  the  purpose  is  accom- 
plished. 

The  one  who  "handed  it  to  me"  dropped  from  the  ranks  a  short 
time  before  we  camped  at  the  end  of  this  march.  This  class  of  sol- 
diers secure  jobs  in  the  rear  bummers'  brigade,  and  others  unable  to 
stand  up  under  hard  marches  and  exposure  receive  discharges  or 
transfer  to  invalid  corps  leaving  the  rough  and  ready,  robust  boys, 
to  weather  out  the  storms  to  the  finish. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  February  23,  we  are  called  out  in  bat- 
tle line  expecting  an  attack  from  rebel  cavalry  but  the  cavalry  do  not 
come  nor  did  we  send  for  them.  We  remain  in  camp  here  until  Feb- 
ruary 26,  then  march  to  Danville,  Ky.,  and  find  quarters  in  a  large 
church  building  where  sufficient  room  is  found  to  accommodate  our 
regiment,  remaining  until  February  28,  when  an  early  start  is  made 
in  the  direction  of  Camp  Dick  where  we  arrive  late  in  the  evening 
and  pitch  our  tents.  March  1  we  continue  on  to  Lexington  and 
find  quarters  for  the  regiment  in  an  engine  house  until  the  following 
day  when  we  move  out  and  are  again  "tenting  on  the  old  camp 
ground."  Here  we  settle  down  performing  our  usual  camp  duties, 
and  drills  when  the  weather  permits. 

While  at  this  camp  Thomas  B.  Gaskill  of  Marlboro  is  sent  to 
the  hospital  from  where  he  is  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps, 
remaining  here  until  discharged  from  service,  having  served  with 
the  company  six  months. 

Henry  Haag  of  Marlboro  is  also  sent  to  the  hospital,  return- 
ing for  duty  at  Camp  Dick  August  6,  following.  August  6,  1864 
he  is  killed  during  a  charge  on  the  enemy  works  near  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  after  faithful  service  of  twenty  months  with  the  company. 

March  22,  1863,  at  an  early  hour  the  bugle  calls  us  in  line  when 
we  march  to  the  railroad,  board  a  freight  train  and  are  taken  to  Nich- 
olasville,  Ky. 

On  arriving  at  this  village  John  Jackman  of  Ironton,  Ohio, 
is  sent  to  the  hospital,  returning  to  the  company  for  duty  August 
6  following.  August  17,  he  is  detailed  as  teamster  and  returns  to 
the  company  for  duty  in  September,  and  remains  until  the  close 
of  the  war  having  served  in  the  ranks  twenty  nine  months. 

At  Nicholasville  we  leave  the  railroad  train  and  start  out  on 
another  foot  race  in  an  effort  to  run  down  rebel  cavalry  raiders.  A 

44 


"He  ran  because  he  couldn't  tiy." 


Footprints  Through 


forced  march  is  made  in  the  direction  of  Camp  Nelson.  Crossing  the' 
Kentucky  river  at  this  place,  we  continue  on-  to  Danville  and  camp 
near  the  village. 

While  on  this  march,  M.  M.  Southworth,  drummer,  of  Marl- 
boro, is  sent  to  the  hospital,  returning  to  the  company  for  duty 
April  8,  following,  while  encamped  at  Crab  Orchard,  Kentucky. 
He  is  again-  sent  to-  the  hospital  front  Jotvesboro;  Ga.,  returning  ire 
about  one  week  while  the  command  is  encamp3cl  at  Decatur,  Ga. 
He  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war,  having-  served  with 
the  Band  over  thirty  three  months.  Now  orre  of  the  survivors  of 
the  company. 

On  arrival  at  Danville,  Ky.,  William  O.  Spellman  of  Marl- 
boro is  sent  to  the  hospital  and  while  there  is  taken  prisoner.  A 
few  days  after  this  he  is  paroled  by  the  rebels  and  sent  to  Camp- 
Chase,  and  from  there  is  furloughed  home  to  await  exchange. 
After  exchange  he  returned  to  the  company,  reporting  for  duty 
while  the  command  is  encamped  at  Stanford.  ^Ky.,  July  19,  1863. 
August  6,  following  he  is  again  sent  to  the  hospftal  from  where  he 
is  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps,  after  eight  months  service 
with  the  company  and  four  months  as  paroled  prisoner  of  war. 
Now  one  of  the  thirteen  survivors. 

At  last  we  have  foutrd  what  we  have  been-  looking  for,  or  rather, 
the  rebels  have  found  us.  On  the  morning  of  March  24,  we  are 
routed  out  by  firing  on  the  picket  line  where  rebel  cavalry  has  cap- 
tured about  twenty-five  of  our  pickets.  We  are  quickly  lined  up  for 
action  but  the  Confeds,  don't  attack.  It  seems  that  after  a  hurried 
consultation  our  officers  have  concluded  that  inasmuch  as  the  rebels 
have  permitted  us  to  chase  them  over  the  state  during  the  past  three 
months  it  will  be  an  act  of  kindness  to  extend  a  like  courtesy,  and  a 
hasty  retreat  is  ordered.  Every  encouragement  is  given  by  the  rebels 
to  quicken  this  movement  for  they  crowd  our  rear  keeping  our  lines 
well  closed  up,  so  close,  in  fact  that  on  several  occasions  we  are 
wheeled  into  line  of  battle  with  guns  capped  and  bayoneted  expect- 
ing a  charge  by  the  enemy.  It  seems  that  the  "Johnnies"  are  not  as 
anxious  to  capture  us  as  they  are  to  capture  our  bacon  (wagon  train) 
for  they  only  skirmish  about  our  flanks  and  rear.  We  break  our 
record  as  pedestrians  until  Camp  Nelson  is  reached,  when  the  enemy 
gives  up  the  chase  while  we  pass  into  our  fortifications  and  save 
our  bacon.  But  few  of  the  pickets  fronting  the  enemy  line  escape 
capture.  One  who  escapes  thus  gives  his  experience  in  getting  away: 
He  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  claim  that  a  good  run  is  better  than  a  bad 
stand,  and  in  order  that  the  run  might  be  a  good  one,  an  early  start 
is  decided  upon.  He  sends  in  a  shot,  at  long  range,  on  the  charging 
rebel  cavalry  and  "lit"  out  for  the  command.  He  believes  he  is  keep- 
ing ahead  of  any  bullets  corning  his  way  until  a  spent  ball  lands  a 
stinging  blow  near  his  cartridge  box.  "From  that  time,"  he  says, 
"I  had  no  recollection  whatever  of  touching  the  ground  until  I  reach- 
ed the  regiment."  Members  of  Company  "B"  captured  at  this  time 
are  Jacob  Acker,  Thomas  Adams,  and  William  H.  Barker.  A  few 
days  after  capture  these  boys  are  paroled  by  the  rebels  and  return 
to  the  regiment,  then  are  sent  to  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  to  await  ex- 

46 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 


tchange.     From  here  they  are   furloughed   to   their   homes  until    ex-- 
change is  made 

Jacob  Acker  of  Lake  township,  after  his  exchange  returned 
to  the  company  for  duty  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.  August  1,  1863,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  No  record  is  made  showing 
4hat  he  ever  was  absent  by  reason  of  sickness.  At  this  time  (1919) 
he  is  living  at  his  old  home  in  Greentown,  and  this  eighteen  .yea* 
old  boy  of  that  time,  now  surrounded  by  three  generations  of 
•children,  is  as  jolly  and  generous  as  ever  while  performing  the 
duties  of  one  of  the  town  dads. 

Thomas  R.  Adams  of  Salem,  Ohio,  after  his  exchange  is  de- 
•tailed  as  clerk  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  remains  until  April 
10,  1864,  reporting  to  the  company  for  duty  at  Cleveland,  Term. 
He  is  again  detailed  as  clerk  at  headquarters  where  he  remains 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  having  served  with  the  company  seven 
.months  and  four  months  as  paroled  prisoner. 

William  H.  Barker,  of  Marlboro  returns  to  the  company  for 
duty  July  4,  1863,  at  Stanford,  Ky.  He  is  on  detached  service  sev- 
eral months  after  enlistment  not  being  able  to  perform  duty  in 
the  ranks.  An  overgrown  seventeen  year  old  boy,  he  is  sorely 
afflicted  with  the  prevailing  camp  disease  yet  makes  no  effort  to 
secure  a  discharge  and  serves  in  the  ranks  whenever  able  to  per- 
form duty.  After  service  with  the  company  of  sixteen  months, 
and  four  months  as  paroled  prisoner  he  is  mustered  out  at  the 
close  of  the  war. 

March  26,  1863,  Adam  Zentz  of  Marlboro  is  sent  to  the  hospi- 
tal. He  is  afterward  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps  Where  he 
remains  until  the  close  of  the  war,  after  seven  months  service 
with  the  company. 

John  Markel  of  Paris  township  is  discharged  from  service 
on  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability  after  two  months'  service 
with  the  company.  He  is  discharged  April  9,  1863,  at  Lancaster, 
Kentucky. 

April  5,  1863  Owen  Stackhouse  of  Paris  township  is  appointed 
sergeant.  March  17,  1864  he  is  sent  north,  while  encamped  at 
Knoxville,  Terni.,  on  detached  service,  return'ng  to  the  company 
for  duty  at  Cartersville,  Ga.,  May  22  following.  August  1864  he 
is  sent  to  the  hospital  from  where  he  returns  to  duty  in  a  few 
days.  He  is  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Term. 
November  30,  1864,  and  is  mustered  out  with  the  company  at  the 
close  of  the  war  after  thirty-one  months'  service. 

While  at  this  camp  we  receive  two  months'  pay  and,  as  usual,  a 
generous  portion  of  this  is  turned  over  to  the  sutler.  This  sutler  is 
a  friendly  merchant  who  extends  credit  to  the  boys.  By  getting  an 
order  from  company  officers  we  present  these  orders  to  the  sutler 
for  which  he  issues  checks.  An  arrangement  between  the  sutler  and 
paymaster  saves  us  the  annoyance  of  handling  payments  due  except 
the  balance,  if  any,  left  after  taking  out  his  share.  He  is  generous 
and  kindhearted  in  extending  credit  for  he  is  dead  sure  of  his  pay 
and  no  one  kicks  on  prices.  He  keeps  careful  track  of  all  checks  issued 
and  promptly  informs  us  when  we  have  reached  the  limit  of  our 
credit.  Sometimes  rebel  raiders  put  him  out  of  business  but  he 
stocks  up  again  and  keeps  right  on  doing  business — and  the  boys. 
With  a  salary  of  about  thirty-seven  cents  per  day  it  is  an  easy  mat- 
ter for  a  number  of  the  boys  to  turn  over  all  their  earnings  to  the 
sutler.  He  keeps  a  supply  of  almost  everything  a  soldier  needs  and 

47 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

considerable  that  he  doesn't  need.  Among  his  canned  goods  we  oc- 
casionally find  canned  fruit  preserved  in  brandy,  instead  of  syrup. 
A  soldier  gets  a  can  of  this  preserved  fruit,  then  he  gets  drunk.  He 
also  gets  a  guard  house  sentence  with  hard  labor  attachment  and  the 
sutler  gets  a  "hearing"  from  Reilly  that  the  former  will  not  soon 
forget. 

During  our  stay  here  we  lose  no  time  on  the  drill  grounds  and 
but  little  grass  can  grow  in  the  vicinity  of  our  camp.  We  make  one 
more  move  to  fresh  grounds  where  camp  is  cleaned  up  and  are  kept 
right  on  the  job  of  wearing  out  shoe  soles  until  the  sixth  of  April 
when  the  bugle  sounds  "Strike  tents."  It  doesn't  take  long  to  break 
up  housekeeping  and  load  ourselves  with  household  effects,  so  we 
are  soon  in  line  headed  southward,  continuing  our  march  until  Crab 
Orchard,  Ky.  is  reached,  where  we  camp  near  a  small  stream  and  re- 
pair a  bridge  the  rebels  have  partly  destroyed. 


CRAB  ORCHARD,  KENTUCKY 


It  now  appears  that  the  order  of  military  operations  has  changed 
and  for  a  time  it  will  be  our  privilege  to  act  as  rear  guard  for  the 
enemy.  After  repairing  the  bridge  we  move  up  nearer  the  village, 
remaining  here  until  April  18,  then  move  forward  again  and  reach 
Mt.  Vernon,  Ky.,  in  the  afternoon  and  camp  in  a  brier  patch. 


48 


CHAPTER  III. 


MT.  VERNON,  KY.,  TO  KNOXVILLE,  TENN. 


These  grounds  are  cleared  up  and  make  a  fine  camping  grounds 
where  drill  service  continues.  Here  we  receive  orders  to  turn  over  our 
Sibley  tents  and  receive  in  exchange  Wedge  tents,  sometimes  known 
as  "pup"  tents.  These  tents  consist  of  two  pieces  of  heavy  drilling  a 
little  over  one  yard  square,  one  piece  to  each  man.  Two  of  the  pieces 
can  be  buttoned  together,  then  with  upright  forks  and  ridge  pole 
the  tent  is  staked  down.  We  now  drop  down  upon  all  fours  and 
move  into  a  small  and  well  ventilated  sleeping  apartment  with  en- 
trance front  and  rear.  To  provide  frames  for  these  sleeping  apart- 
ments we  depend  on  getting  these  at  camping  grounds.  In  time  of 
fair  weather  and  our  stay  but  temporary  we  use  these  tents  with 
blankets  and  ponchos  as  bedding  and  sleep  without  other  shelter. 
In  this  situation  we  are  sometimes  caught  in  rain  storms  at  night 
that  arouse  the  boys  when  some  erect  their  tents  by  using  the  bay- 
oneted musket  as  upright  stakes  and  fix  up  their  tents  in  a  variety 
of  ways  to  afford  shelter.  Others  wrap  their  ponchos  about  them  and 
sleep  while  rains  beat  upon  them,  or,  perhaps  sit  about  the  camp  fires 
and  sing  "Home,  Sweet  Home,"  or  "I  want  to  be  a  soldier,"  etc.,  while 
Ritchey  is  saying  hard  things  about  the  fellow  who  borrowed  his 
umbrella. 

While  at  this  camp  Oliver  Denious  of  Lake  township  is  de- 
tailed as  bugler  at  brigade  headquarters  where  he  remains  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  having  served  in  the  ranks  with  the  company 
eight  months. 

April  23,  Company's  "K"  and  "B"  under  command  of  Captain  Jor- 
dan are  sent  out  on  the  hunt  of  bushwhackers  who  infest  the  foothills 
and  mountains  of  southern  Kentucky.  At  the  close  of  the  first  day 
we  reach  Wildcat,  a  hamlet  now  almost  deserted  by  its  former  in- 
habitants. Here  we  camp  until  April  25,  in  the  meantime  divide  up 
in  squads  and  scour  the  hills  and  valleys  in  this  benighted  region,  the 
haunt  of  bushwhackers  and  outlaws  who  are  hidden  in  caves  and  on 
the  hills  watching  for  straggling  soldiers  and  loyal  citizens  who  fall 
victims  to  these  bands.  These  hills,  caves  and  other  hiding  places 
are  familiar  to  these  bands  and  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to  find  them. 
From  some  hill  top  they  probably  watch  and  locate  us  with  better 
success,  and  by  watching  our  movements  easily  evade  •  discovery. 

49 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

Failing  to  get  trace  of  these  men  we  return  and  reach  the  regiment 
on  April  29. 

During  this  time  Colonel  Gilbert  never  becomes  lax  in  enforcing 
strict  discipline.  Sundays  are  set  apart  for  inspection,  and  religious 
service  in  the  afternoon.  On  these  inspections  all  are  expected  to  be 
present  with  clean  hands  and  face  and  present,  as  far  as  conditions 
warrant,  a  tidy  appearance.  Even  Joe  and  George  always  make  it  a 
rule  to  wash  their  faces  and  hands  before  Sunday  inspection.  Unless 
they  are  caught  in  a  rain  storm,  water  seldom  gets  as  far  back  as  their 
ears  and  neck.  Our  ammunition  and  muskets  are  inspected  by  a  white 
gloved  exacting  inspecting  officers,  who  with  considerable  vim  seizes 
our  muskets,  examines  the  locks,  sounds  the  barrel  with  a  rammer  to 
see  the  gun  is  clean  inside  and  then  hands  the  musket  back  with 
considerable  more  vigor  than  when  he  seized  it.  The  inspector  now 
passes  up  the  rear  of  the  line,  opening  cartridge  boxes  to  see  that 
ammunition  is  there  and  in  good  order.  Brass  U.  S.  plates  and  buck- 
les, guns,  rammers  and  bayonets  are  expected  to  be  clear  of  rust,  and 
shining.  The  inspector  then  passes  down  the  line  giving  a  hasty 
glance  at  knapsacks  now  opened  and  lying  on  the  ground  before  us. 
When  through,  if  the  inspector  does  not  find  his  gloves  reasonably 
clean  there  is  some  back  talk  coming,  and  this  always  travels  in  the 
direction  of  the  man  in  the  ranks.  The  fact  that  a  duty  is  neglected 
is  sufficient.  The  whys  and  wherefores  are  not  allowed  unless  called 
for.  Seely  takes  a  chance  on  an  answer  tinged  with  impertinence  and 
escapes  punishment.  Seely  is  averse  to  carrying  heavy  knapsacks. 
The  weather  is  warm  and  but  little  bedding  and  clothing  is  needed. 
He  can  sleep  while  hanging  over  a  stump  or  rail  fence.  His  clothing 
and  household  goods  are  discarded  beyond  the  limit.  As  the  inspect- 
or passes  along  the  line  he  halts  suddenly  in  front  of  Seely's  lank 
knapsack.  Then  the  inspector  looks  at  Seely  and  again  at  the  knap- 
sack. Then  again  looking  at  Seely  very  severely  the  inspector  in- 
quires, "What  have  you  in  that  knapsack?"  "Von  teck  of  carts  and 
von  tirty  shirt"  replies  Seely.  The  inspector's  attempt  to  suppress 
a  smile  is  a  failure  as  he  passes  on  down  the  line.  Seely  escapes 
punishment  occasionally  because  of  his  aptness  in  making  amusing 
replies  and  because  of  his  childlike  look  of  innocence  when  accused 
of  neglecting  duties.  His  flash  of  wit  probably  saved  him  this  time 
but  I  could  think  of  nothing  along  that  line  to  save  me  from  a  guard 
house  sentence  for  appearing  on  inspection  with  twenty  rounds  of 
ammunition  instead  of  forty  as  required. 

During  our  long  and  tiresome  drills  twenty  rounds  of  ammuni- 
tion is  removed  from  the  lower  chamber  of  my  cartridge  box,  thus 
reducing  the  weight  of  the  box  somewhat.  These  are  left  in  my  tent 
during  drill  hours  ready  to  replace  in  case  of  emergency,  but  I  wasn't 
prepared  to  meet  this  emergency. 

I  neglected  to  replace  this  ammunition  when  called  out  for  in- 
spection and  while  the  inspector  examines  my  cartridge  box  I  felt 
impressed  that  something  undesirable  would  be  coming  my  way. 

SO 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

The  inspector's  call  for  an  explanation  comes  so  suddenly  that  no 
answer  but  the  truth  is  available  so  the  case  is  lost.  Disarmed,  dis- 
honored and  accompanied  by  a  guard,  quarters  is  found  in  the  guard 
house  and  the  fighting  strength  of  the  army  is  impaired  and  its  dis- 
cipline improved  and  for  three  days  thereafter  the  colonel  and  my- 
self are  the  only  men  in  the  regiment  who  enjoy  the  distinction  of 
being  under  the  protection  of  guards  walking  a  beat  in  front  of  our 
tents.  But  the  sting  to  this  punishment  becomes  less  painful  when  it 
is  found  that  these  offending  prisoners  are  relieved  from  all  duty. 
No  drilling  or  guard  disturbs  the  culprit  and  rations  are  issued  as 
usual;  neither  is  his  rest  disturbed  by  bugle  calls  unless  the  army 
moves.  At  night  the  prisoner  sometimes  hears  the  pattering  rain  on 
the  tent  and  his  sympathies  go  out  to  his  guard  and  protector  who 
is  facing  the  storm.  Of  course,  boys  passing  the  guard  house  tent 
sometimes  say  things  that  irritate  these  suffering  (?)  prisoners,  yet 
they  enjoy  this  period  of  rest  and  playing  seven-up  with  the  guards 
between  their  "tricks"  on  duty.  But  one  thing  that  disturbs  his  peace 
of  mind  when  nearing  the  close  of  sentence  is  the  parting  words  deliv- 
ered by  Reilly  whose  penetrating  voice  leaves  a  lasting  impression. 
This  humilliation  is  about  the  only  punishment  inflicted  for  offenses 
of  this  kind,  though  sometimes  offenders  find  recreation  in  picking 
stones  and  cleaning  up  camp  grounds  accompanied  by  a  guard  to  see 
that  his  prisoner  does  not  overwork  himself. 

June  6,  Wilbur  F.  Kurtz  of  Paris  township  is  appointed  cor- 
poral. March  24,  1864,  he  is  sent  to  the  hospital  where  he  remains 
until  August  15  following.  After  service  in  the  ranks  of  twenty 
nine  months  he  is  mustered  out  with  the  company  at  the  close  of 
the  war. 

A  few  days  after  this  inspection  we  move  east  of  the  village  of 
Mount  Vernon  near  a  small  stream  of  water  where  we  clean  up  a 
new  camp  and  build  bunks  about  one  foot  above  ground  and  use  our 
tents  for  covering.  While  here  I  become  ill  and  report  to  the  doc- 
tor who  examines  tongue  and  pulse,  then  passes  out  a  few  quinine 
powders  when  I  return  to  quarters.  While  sitting  on  the  bunk  on 
the  following  day  a  sensation  of  something  or  some  things  creeping 
along  my  backbone  is  noticed.  This  being  so  unusual  (?)  my  shirt 
is  removed  when  bunkmate  immediately  diagnosed  my  malady  as 
measles  which  are  now  coming  out.  To  make  sure  he  is  not  mis- 
taking other  eruptions  as  measles  the  surgeon  is  called,  who  con- 
firms bunkmate's  statement.  After  a  few  days  under  the  doctor's 
care,  duty  in  the  ranks  is  resumed.  There's  nothing  like  quinine  to 
drive  out  measles. 

The  weather  is  hot  and  water  in  the  little  stream  is  warm  and 
stale,  and  many  are  afflicted  with  bowel  troubles  and  fever.  June 
1,  1863,  Joseph  Johnson  of  Marlboro  township  is  taken  to  the  hos- 
pital tent  with  typhoid  fever  where  he  died  on  June  8.  During 
our  visits  at  the  hospital  it  is  seen  that  he  is  neglected  by  nurses 
who  are  more  interested  in  idling  around  and  reading  novels  than 
caring  for  the  sick  left  in  their  care.  Comrade  Johnson's  lips  and 
mouth  are  parched  with  fever  and  his  nostrils  coated  with  blood 
left  to  draw  flies  he  is  unable  to  drive  away.  He  tries  to  talk 

51 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

with  visiting  comrades  but  is  unable  to  articulate  words  plain 
enough  to  be  understood.  His  appealing  look  tells  of  suffering 
and  neglect  he  fully  realizes.  To  enter  complaint  by  comrades 
for  this  treatment  and  neglect  on  the  part  of  nurses  is  only  to 
invite  trouble  to  one  who  attempts  to  interfere.  Comrade  John- 
son gave  his  country  ten  months  honest,  faithful  service,  during 
the  time  he  was  permitted  to  remain  with  us.  His  body  was 
buried  with  the  honors  of  war  near  our  camping  grounds  from 
where  it  was  aftenyard  removed  and  sent  to  the  home  of  his 
parents  and  buried  in  the  Marlboro  cemetery. 

Thus  it  is  too  often  the  case  that  worthless  soldiers  in  the  ranks 
are  detailed  as  nurses  at  hospitals  where  they  become  more  than 
worthless  nurses  because  of  their  laziness,  indifference  and  neglect 
of  sick  placed  under  their  charge.  At  Lexington,  the  writer  while  in 
hospital  and  delirious  with  fever  was  found  crawling  on  hands  and 
knees  near  the  guard  lines  and  returned  to  the  hospital  tent  by  a 
guard,  where  the  nurse  was  found  asleep,  he  supposed  to  be  caring 
for  a  number  of  patients  occupying  the  hospital  tent. 

On  the  night  of  August  8,  I  am  on  guard  duty  and  stationed  at  the 
hospital  where  my  lonely  vigil  of  four  hours  is  passed  near  where 
the  body  of  my  late  comrade  rests  in  its  plain  pine  coffin,  and  where 
the  moans  and  cries  of  suffering  comrades  are  heard  coming  from 
hospital  tents  nearby. 

With  a  Mother  Bickerdyke  located  in  every  hospital  tent  thous- 
ands of  lives  might  be  saved.  Mother  is  a  terror  to  worthless  doc- 
tors, hospital  stewards,  nurses  and  hangers  on.  Her  hands  never 
become  entangled  in  red  tape.  She  never  fears  or  sizes  up  a  man  by 
the  shoulder  straps  he  wears  and  is  always  ready  with  an  argument 
in  defense  of  the  man  who  carries  a  musket.  Even  Sherman  admit- 
ted that  Mother  Bickerdyke  ranked  him.  In  this  way  the  general  rid 
himself  of  complaining  surgeons  who  sought  to  have  her  removed. 
She  watched  these  surgeons  and  nurses  so  closely  that  they  can  not 
always  get  away  with  delicacies  sent  by  Soldiers  Aid  societies  for 
sick  and  wounded  soldiers. 

May  20,  a  detail  is  made  from  our  regiment  to  man  company  "D" 
First  Ohio  artillery,  William  H.  Kahler  and  George  Stratton  of  our 
company  being  detailed  for  this  service  and  remain  on  this  duty  until 
July  16  following,  when  they  report  to  the  company  while  encamped 
at  Stanford,  Ky. 

William  H.  Kahler  of  Marlboro  was  one  of  the  five  boys  who 
was  absent  without  leave  after  the  company  left  Bellaire  during 
the  winter  of  '64  and  '65.  He  returned  to  the  company  for  duty 
at  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  March  1,  after  an  absence  of  about  one 
month.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  company  at  Greensboro, 
N.  C.,  after  service  of  33  months. 

George  Stratton  of  Franklin  Square,  Ohio,  served  with  the 
command  twenty  six  months  and  eight  months  on  detached  ser- 
vice and  in  the  hospital.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  company 
when  the  war  closed. 

While  at  this  camp  a  Cornet  Band  is  organized  by  the  officers  of 
the  regiment  who  purchase  instruments  and  employ  a  leader  to 

52 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

instruct  members  of  the  band,  who  are  selected  from  the  ranks  of 
the  regiment. 

Reverend  Buell  Whitney,  a  private  of  company  "I"  receives  a 
commission  as  chaplain  of  the  regiment  and  faithfully  performs  the 
duties  of  his  office  throughout  his  term  of  service. 

We  are  kept  constantly  at  work  during  the  hot  month  of  June  in 
battalion,  company  and  skirmish  drill  and  the  practice  of  falling  out 
at  roll  call  under  arms  is  not  neglected.  Inspections,  guard  mount- 
ings and  dress  parade  in  addition  to  these  drills  are  kept  going  with 
painful  regularity.  This  daily  routine  of  duties  is  never  neglected 
unless  storms,  marching  or  movements  of  rebel  raiders  demand  our 
attention. 

Natives  frequently  visit  our  camps  offering  pies  and  other  eat- 
ables for  sale.  These  delicacies  (?)  are  sometimes  bought  by  wicked 
soldiers  with  money  known  as  Ohio  Bookbindery  currency,  a  very 
good  immitation  of  Ohio  State  bank  bills.  Yet  the  natives  do  not 
lose  much  in  the  deal  for  this  bookbindery  currency  comes  about  as 
near  being  the  genuine  article  as  the  pies  and  doughnuts  do.  The 
shortening  seems  to  have  entered  the  dough  the  long  way  and  filler 
in  the  pies  is  sometimes  a  mystery,  though  dried  apple  and  elderberry 
are  names,  under  which  they  are  sold.  Apples  are  dried  by  stringing  the 
quartered  fruit  on  threads,  then  suspended  to  decorate  walls,  ceilings 
and  over  fire  places  there  to  remain  through  the  drying  period  to 
breed  worms  and  afford  resting  places  for  flies.  These  elastic  pies 
are  made  with  both  crimped  and  plain  edges,  distinguished  by  boys 
as  "pegged  and  sewed,"  yet  soldiers  sometimes  eat  them  and  some- 
times they  are  seen  impaled  on  bayonets  as  we  march  along.  One  of 
these  wicked  soldiers  buys  a  roasted  chicken  for  which  he  gives  the 
farmer  a  one  dollar  bookbindery  bill  and  receives  twenty  five  cents 
change  in  good  money.  This  deal  shocks  the  conscientious  sergeant 
who  straightway  visits  the  tent  of  the  offender  with  exhortations  and 
threats  of  punishment,  but  the  sergeant  soon  returns  to  his  tent  with 
an  eased  conscience  and  a  portion  of  the  chicken. 

Planters  are  not  altogether  satisfied  with  the  kind  of  protection 
we  are  giving  them  for  they  frequently  visit  camp  with  complaints 
against  soldiers  who  are  accused  of  visiting  truck  patches,  chicken 
roosts,  etc.,  also  that  cows  are  failing  in  their  flow  of  milk.  Boys 
who  have  a  hankering  for  chicken  cannot  be  too  careful  when  dis- 
posing of  feathers,  for  a  few  downy  feathers  found  on  Jack's  blouse 
leads  to  conviction  and  this  discovery  is  made  when  Jack  had  almost 
established  an  alibi.  Jack  pays  the  planter,  also  the  penalty  of  his 
crime  with  a  guard  house  sentence  and  is  now  relieved  from  all 
other  duty  and  for  several  days  he  languishes  in  the  guard  house  at 
his  ease  while  watching  us  good  boys  sweating  on  the  drill  ground, 
yet  dreading  an  attack  of  "prickly  heat"  that  will  be  administered  by 
Reilly  at  the  close  pf  his  imprisonment. 

Two  boys  who  are  supposed  to  be  protecting  property  of  Ken- 

53 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

tucky  citizens  visit  a  plantation  in  the  dead  of  night  and  carry  away  a 
hive  of  bees.  While  on  their  way  to  camp  with  this  precious  burden 
the  baying  of  blood  hounds  is  heard  coming  from  the  direction  of  the 
raided  plantation.  With  a  sensation  of  those  savage  animals  tearing 
at  their  flesh  and  without  time  to  discuss  the  situation  the  bee  hive  is 
quickly  dropped,  and  as  the  boys  describe  it,  "but  few  high  places  are 
touched  between  the  starting  point  and  camp."  But,  "the  wicked  flee 
when  no  man  persueth"  for  it  was  found  afterwards  that  these  hounds 
were  on  the  trail  of  other  game. 

Slaves  have  shown  us  scars  left  from  attacks  of  these  savage  an- 
imals, also  welts  upon  their  backs,  the  latter  made  by  the  lash  applied 
by  master  or  overseer.  These  slaves  are  now  giving  their  masters 
considerable  trouble  for  many  are  watching  opportunities  to  gain 
their  freedom.  At  night  while  on  picket  we  hear  the  baying  of  hounds 
on  the  trail  of  fugitive  slaves  trying  to  reach  the  Ohio  river  where 
they  are  often  captured  before  reaching  the  goal.  For  this  offense 
slaves  have  heretofore  been  sold  to  planters  in  the  cotton  and  cane 
states  farther  south,  separated  from  their  families,  chained  together  in 
gangs  and  transported  down  the  river  there  to  spend  their  lives  in 
unrequited  toil,  and  ill  treatment. 

We  who  have  lived  and  been  educated  amid  anti-slavery  influ- 
ences now  more  clearly  see  the  evils  of  human  bondage.  We  meet 
slaves  who  though  uneducated  are  men  of  intelligence,  yet  subject  to 
the  will  of  masters  who  hold  the  same  title  to  these  human  beings 
that  are  held  to  horses  and  cattle,  a  system  founded  in  selfishness 
and  continued  until  it  is  believed  by  their  owners  to  be  a  sacred  right. 
These  slaves  fully  realize  their  condition  yet  many  are  devoted  to 
masters  and  mistresses  and  seem  content  with  their  lot  and  will 
probably  remain  on  the  old  plantation. 

We  have  orders  to  protect  property  belonging  to  citizens  of  the 
state  against  rebel  raiders  and  when  slaves  are  lost,  strayed  or  stolen 
all  citizens  as  well  as  soldiers  are  expected  to  aid  in  restoring  this 
property  to  its  rightful  owner  and  when  found  within  the  Union 
lines  are  delivered  up  if  called  for  or  expelled  from  our  camps. 

As  a  further  protection  many  secession  families  possess  both 
Confederate  and  Union  flags  which  are  displayed  to  passing  Union  or 
rebel  armies  as  evidence  of  loyalty  as  occasion  requires. 

Boys  do  considerable  growling  because  of  these  orders  protect- 
ing property  belonging  to  planters  known  to  be  in  sympathy  with  the 
enemy,  and  property  needful  to  add  to  the  army  ration  is  secretly 
declared  "contraband  of  war."  When  the  loyalty  of  a  planter  is  in 
doubt  soldiers  sometimes  take  the  benefit  of  this,  along  with  other 
things,  such  as  potatoes,  apples,  poultry,  etc. 

Our  movements  up  to  the  present  time  have  consisted  largely  of 
foot  races.  As  the  enemy  we  are  contending  with  is  mounted  on 
horses  we  seem  to  be  operating  at  a  disadvantage  for  the  rebs  com- 
mit depredations  and  then  escape  our  infantry  with  ease,  while  at 

54 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

times  it  is  necessary  for  us  to  get  an  early  start  to  escape  the  enemy 
when  on  our  trail.  Camps  Dick  Robinson  and  Nelson  are  fortified 
camps  used  as  base  of  supplies,  also  our  place  of  refuge  whenever  the 
enemy's  turn  comes  to  "run  us  in." 

We  have  now  been  in  this  camp  about  five  weeks.  The  constant 
drill  and  camp  duties  become  monotonous  and  tiresome.  The  weath- 
er is  hot,  camping  grounds  are  stale,  and  water  getting  low  in  the  lit- 
tle stream,  is  impure.  The  grass  in  the  vicinity  of  the  camping 
grounds  is  tramped  to  death.  We  want  a  change  of  scenery  and  get 
it  on  June  29,  when  the  bugle  sounds  "strike  tents."  All  joyfully 
respond  to  the  call,  fold  tents  and  pack  household  effects,  then  form 
in  marching  order.  "Forward,  M-a-r-c-h"  is  the  command  and  all 
step  off  to  the  music  of  the  new  band,  singing  "Tramp,  tramp  the 
boys  are  marching,"  etc.,  continuing  until  evening,  then  bivouac  for 
the  night. 


SOMERSET,  KENTUCKY 


On  the  following  day  we  reach  Somerset,  Ky.,  and  camp  about 
one  mile  from  the  village.  We  afterwards  move  to  a  new  position 
near  by  and  clean  up  the  camping  grounds.  We  have  now  cleaned  up 
a  generous  portion  of  Kentucky,  removing  stones,  briers  and  under- 
brush, also  top  rails  from  any  miles  of  fences,  but  are  only  allowed 
to  remove  top  rails.  This  is  a  standing  order  that  is  strictly  obeyed. 
As  soon  as  camp  grounds  are  selected  we  stack  arms,  break  ranks, 
unsling  knapsacks  and  stake  down  tents.  "Chum"  takes  both  canteens 
and  goes  on  the  hunt  of  water  and  I  go  after  a  top  rail  or  two.  A  fire 
is  soon  started  when  chum  returns  with  canteens  filled.  Sometimes 
he  finds  a  cow  and  spring  at  the  same  time  and  now  returns  with  a 
canteen  of  milk.  Chum  with  others  corner  the  cow,  that,  he  says  was 
"a  bad  actor."  Two  hold  the  cow  by  the  horns  and  nose  and  one  by 
the  tail  while  two  do  the  milking  between  kicks.  When  the  cow 
tries  to  back,  the  boy  at  the  steering  oar  gives  the  tail  a  twist,  yet 
when  milking  time  is  over,  he  says,  "the  cow  is  as  dry  as  a  desert." 
Supper  is  soon  over  and  a  ditch  is  dug  around  our  tents  when  we  lie 
down  for  a  rest.  Details  for  guard  and  picket  duty  is  called  by  the 
orderly  sergeant  and  we  escape.  While  congratulating  ourselves  on 
our  good  luck  the  second  sergeant  bawls  out  "fall  in  for  police  duty." 
There  is  no  escape  this  time  so  with  bundles  of  brush  the  entire  camp 
is  swept  and  cleared  of  brush  and  stones. 

During  these  movements  chasing  after  and  from  rebel  raiders  we 
are  allowed  to  carry  arms  at  will  and  march  at  route  step.  This 
permits  us  to  carry  arms  in  any  way  desired  and  to  march  along 
without  keeping  up  snug  in  the  ranks.  On  approaching  villages  or 
places  where  a  favorable  impression  of  "Yanks"  is  desired  to  be  left, 
"attention"  is  called  when  we  close  up  in  the  ranks  and  come  to  right 
shoulder  shift  then  catch  step  with  the  tap  of  the  drums  or  music  un- 

55 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

til  we  have  passed  before  both  friendly  and  hostile  inhabitants.  Af- 
ter we  have  passed,  "route  step  and  arms  at  will"  is  resumed.  Dur- 
ing our  marches  most  of  the  boys  prefer  to  take  this  punishment  in 
silence,  but  we  have  a  few  who  look  upon  these  route  step  periods  as 
a  time  set  apart  to  relate  past  achievements  as  hunters,  rail  splitters, 
wood  choppers,  etc.,  also  to  discuss  important  questions  of  the  day. 
On  reaching  camp  and  before  breaking  ranks  the  chaplain  often  ap- 
pears with  our  mail  which  is  sometimes  late  in  delivery  because  of 
our  constant  shifting  from  point  to  point  over  the  state.  Our  let- 
ters are  marked  "to  follow  the  regiment"  and  reach  us  sooner  or 
later. 

Today  I  receive  a  letter  from  home  with  the  information  that  my 
brother  belonging  to  the  Thirty  Fifth,  Iowa,  regiment  was  captured 
in  Mississippi,  and  is  now  a  prisoner  on  Belle  Isle,  Va. 

Even  this  hot  July  weather  does  not  move  the  commander's 
heart  with  pity.  Daily  duties  and  drills  keep  right  on  just  the  same. 
Company  "B"  is  located  on  the  left  of  the  regimental  line  and  when  a 
"right  wheel"  of  the  battalion  is  ordered  it  is  a  game  of  crack  the 
whip  for  company  "B".  Other  evolutions  made  with  a  double  quick 
movement  gives  us  all  the  exercise  needed  and  more  than  desired. 

Cincinnati  papers  reach  us  daily  and  we  get  a  little  time  to  read 
while  the  bacon  is  frying.  We  are  reading  about  the  Morgan  raid 
near  our  homes  in  Columbiana  and  Stark  counties,  O.,  also  that  the 
pope  of  Rome  has  recognized  the  southern  confederacy  and  Jeff.  Davis 
as  its  president.  This  is  followed  by  New  York  city  and  Boston  draft 
riots  lasting  three  days  where  hundreds  of  lives  are  lost  and  millions 
of  property  destroyed,  while  the  marching  rioters  hurrah  for  Jeff. 
Davis.  Lincoln  is  denounced  as  a  bloody  tyrant  and  is  being  crucified 
between  croakers  and  copperheads.  Not  very  comforting  news  to 
read  while  we  are  toiling  and  sweating  to  suppress  the  rebellion. 

Draft  is  on  and  the  country  is  in  a  turmoil.  Copperheads  are 
organizing  lodges  of  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  to  resist  the  draft, 
threatening  revolution  in  the  North  with  "Fort  Fizzle"  in  Holmes 
county,  Ohio  as  one  of  the  points  of  rally  and  resistance.  Opposition 
to  Lincoln's  method  of  carrying  on  the  war,  and  inaction  of  the  army 
of  the  Potomac  is  loudly  criticised  by  many  newspapers  throughout 
the  North. 


CAMP  NELSON,  KY. 


July  29,  we  again  take  up  our  line  of  march  and  reach  Camp  Nel- 
son on  the  evening  of  July  30.  Tired,  hungry  and  footsore  we  drop 
down  for  a  short  rest  before  staking  down  our  tents.  During  this 
march  we  suffer  from  the  excessive  heat,  both  from  the  scorching  sun 
and  hot  dusty  pikes.  At  times  our  hardships  are  increased  by  the 
company  oracles  who  seldom  become  too  tired  to  take  these  hard- 

56 


'Footprints  Through 


ships  seriously.  Ritchey  will  endure  punishment  in  order  to  add 
torture  to  others.  On  this  march  he  expresses  the  opinion  that  this 
is  good  weather  on  growing  crops.  Though  all  seem  too  tired  under 
this  withering  heat  and  sun  to  do  aught  but  nurse  aches  and  keep  in 
the  ranks  these  unfeeling  pests  brealc  out  in  an  argument,  some  deny- 
ing, others  affirming  Ritchey's  opinion  until  groans  frequently  escape 
the  lips  of  persecuted  listeners. 

Two  of  these  boys  had  been  away  from  home  before  they  entered 
the  army,  a  fact  they  are  determined  to  impress  upon  the  minds  of 
suffering  comrades.  A  number  of  the  bureaus  of  information  spring 
from  early  German  settlers  in  Stark  county.  Coming  from  the  farms 
they  are  hardy,  well  seasoned  boys,  whose  power  of  endurance  seem 
almost  marvelous.  Inured  to  labor  at  home  where  they  mauled  rails 
and  performed  other  hard  work  during  long  days  and  hunted  coon 
at  night,  they  are  well  equipped  to  meet  conditions  found  in  hard 
military  service.  They  miss  mother's  good  hog  and  hominy,  ham  and 
•eggs,  etc.,  yet  uncomplainingly  accept  what  the  quartermaster  has  to 
offer.  Seldom  answering  to  the  morning  sick  call  they  are  always 
found  ready  for  duty  or  an  argument.  During  the  time  these  boys 
have  been  traveling  and  a  few  months  in  military  service  they  have 
developed  into  military  experts  and  have  gathered  much  valuable  in- 
formation all  of  which  they  generously  divide  as  we  march  along 
or  while  in  camp. 

It  seems  that  when  "General"  Smitty  was  about  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  got  into  an  argument  with  his  dad  and  got  the  worst  of  it, 
then  ran  way  from  home.  But  in  a  short  time  he  tires  of  the  bumps 
and  jars  he  finds  among  strangers  in  strange  lands  and  determines 
to  return  to  his  father's  house,  believing  that  one  good  hard  "lickin" 
at  home  was  better  than  facing  the  cold  world.  Dad  didn't  meet  him 
on  the  way  with  open  arms  or  serve  any  fatted  calf,  except  a  narrow 
strip  of  the  hide  and  this  was  served  raw.  Smitty  got  but  little  of 
this  however  for  mother  interfered  before  the  boy  hardly  got  a  taste 
of  it.  Smitty's  absence  from  home  was  crowded  with  adventures  and 
these  are  passed  out  to  his  comrades  without  provocation. 

"General  Fritz,"  sometimes  known  as  the  "dutch  yankee,"  assumes 
an  air  of  superiority  that  irritates  other  oracles.  Another  brigadier 
under  a  knapsack,  one  who  comes  from  old  fighting  stock  for  his 
grandfather's  step  brother  served  under  General  Jackson.  Fritz,  too, 
has  traveled.  He  has  McGuffey's  speller  committed  to  memory,  also 
has  geography  and  the  multiplication  table  and  all  military  calls  set  to 
music  with  which  to  entertain  us.  Not  long  before  enlisting  he  visit- 
ed an  uncle  down  at  Kishoquoquillas,  Pa.,  and  is  the  only  boy  in  the 
company  who  can  spell  the  name  of  this  place  correctly.  Fritz  remain- 
ed away  a  week  yet,  he  says,  "the  dog  knew  him  when  he  returned 
home."  He  went  the  rounds  shaking  hands  with  neighbors,  who  had 
not  missed  the  boy,  but  listen  patiently  while  the  great  traveler  un- 
loads the  information  he  has  gathered  in  that  far  off  country.  Ritchey 
who  has  collected  fragments  of  this  oft  repeated  story  with  its  many 

57 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

variations  ventures  the  opinion  that  Fritz's  uncle  in  Pennsylvania 
soon  tired  of  the  boy's  "running  off  at  the  mouth"  and  turned  the  dogs- 
loose  on  him  and  ended  the  visitation  ahead  of  schedale  time  and 
would  do  so  again  if  Fritz  ever  again  infested  that  neighborhood." 
Fritz  is  mad.  Then  sergeant  interferes  and  declares  the  boys  out  of 
order  and  all  becomes  quiet  in  the  ranks. 

These  oracles  appear  to  know  more  than  is  known  at  headquarters 
about  past  and  future  movements  of  the  army.  Wise  predictions 
sometimes  arouses  the  envy  of  other  strategists  and  arguments  fol- 
low. Distance  between  points  over  which  we  have  traveled,  the  ob- 
ject of  certain  movements  of  the  army,  the  virtue  of  peach  sprouts 
in  locating  veins  of  water,  the  infallibility  of  the  Lancaster  almanac 
and  signs  of  the  zodiac  are  among  the  questions  they  try  to  settle. 
Almost  daily  while  on  the  march  these  arguments  are  good  for  a 
chorus  of  groans  from  weary  comrades. 

General  Burnside  now  appears  and  takes  command  of  the  forces 
in  Kentucky.  Rumors  are  afloat  in  camp  an  army  is  being  organized 
to  march  through  the  Cumberland  mountains  to  East  Tennessee.  We 
are  delighted  to  hear  of  a  change  and  any  new  adventure  will  be  wel- 
comed. We  are  tired  of  footracing  over  these  hot  and  dusty  pikes 
where  little  seems  to  be  accomplished  except  to  test  our  power  of  en- 
durance while  drilling,  marching  and  protecting  property  belonging 
to  the  enemy  as  well  as  friends,  against  rebel  raiders.  Kentucky 
scenery  does  not  interest  us  any  more,  though  this  scenery  has  been 
somewhat  changed  by  the  removal  of  acres  of  stones,  brier  patches 
and  many  miles  of  rail  fences. 


THROUGH  THE  CUMBERLAND  MOUNTAINS 


August  4,  we  are  again  on  the  march  and  after  crossing  the  Ken- 
tucky river  we  arrive  at  "Camp  Dick"  and  pitch  our  tents.  At 
this  camp  orders  are  issued  that  each  man  be  supplied  with  a  new 
suit  of  clothing,  if  needed,  together  with  an  extra  suit  and  change  of 
underclothing,  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition,  eight  days  ra- 
tions and  an  extra  pair  of  shoes.  All  this  to  be  added  to  our  supply 
of  baggage  Uncle  Sam  now  proposes  to  heap  upon  our  backs  to  be 
carried  on  a  march  of  over  two  hundred  miles  through  the  Cumber- 
land mountains  to  East  Tennessee. 

While  at  this  camp  William  Smith  of  Marlboro  is  sent  to  the 
hospital.  January,  1864  he  is  transferred  from  the  hospital  to  the 
Invalid  Corps  where  he  remains  until  discharged,  after  eleven 
months  service  with  his  company. 

At  the  same  time  George  Zentz  of  Lake  township  is  detached 
to  headquarters  for  blacksmith  service  where  he  remains  until 
February,  1864  when  he  returns  to  the  company  for  duty.  He  is 
again  detached  for  this  service  where  he  remains  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  having  served  on  duty  in  the  ranks  fourteen  months. 

Drill  at  this  camp  continues  until  August  13.     In  the  meantime 

58 


"Come  out  from  behind  that  Knapsack,  Eli> 
I  know  you're  there," 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

further  preparations  are  being  made  for  the  march  to  East  Terr- 
nessee.  On  this  date  we  start  out  OIT  the  Danville  pike  and  arrive 
at  the  village  in  the  evening  and  are  "ten-ting  again  on  the  old  camp 
ground"  occupied  off  a  former  visit. 


STANFORD,  KENTUCKY 


On  Augtrst  17  our  march  is  continued  to  Stanford,  Ky..  where  we 
arrive  late  in  the  evening  and  pitch  our  tents.  The  march  to  Stanford 
will  not  be  forgotten"  by  alf  who-  suffered  tormerrt  from  the  hot 
blistering  sun  on  our  heads  and  heat  radiating  from  the  dusty  pike. 
Water  19  scarce  and  clouds  of  dust  so  heavy  at  times  that  one  can 
scarcely  see  his  file  leader.  The  loads  on  otrr  backs  now  weigh  from 
sixty  to  eighty  pounds  and  many  who  are  overcome  by  heat  or 
through  exhaustion  are  loaded  in  ambulances  or  sent  to  the  hospital 
where  a  few  are  reported  to  have  died  of  sunstroke.  The  loads  we 
are  now  carrying  consists  of  one  Enfield  rifle,  one  hundred  rounds  of 
ammunition  (one  ounce  balls),  eight  days  rations,  one  extra  suit  of 
clothing  with  underwear,  shoes,  tent  and  blankets  and  poncho.  These 
articles  with  canteen,  frying  pan,  coffee  cans  and  other  equipment 
make  up  the  loads  we  must  "tote"  over  rough  mountainous  roads 
through  the  Cumberlands.  Taking  a  rear  view  of  Eli  and  Stevie  of 
Company  "I",  two  seventeen  year  old  boys,  but  little  can  be  seen  ex- 
cept this  mass  of  baggage  and  the  lower  portions  of  their  legs.  These 
hardy  dutiful  boys  measure  five  feet  from  heel  to  crown  and  are  al- 
ways found  on  hand  at  roll  call  until  Steve  falls  before  the  enemy  at 
Atlanta  on  the  second  anniversary  of  the  date  of  his  enlistment. 

While  encamped  here,  David  Beltz  of  Marlboro  is  detailed  as 
teamster  and  pioneer  at  brigade  headquarters,  remaining  on  this 
detached  service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  after  eleven  months 
service  in  the  ranks. 

August  19,  1863  the  bugle  calls  "strike  tents"  and  we  are  soon  in 
line  marching  southward  and  shouting  "On  to  Knoxville."  Our  first 
Stop  is  made  at  Crab  Orchard  where  we  bivouac  for  the  night,  con- 
tinuing the  march  on  the  following  day,  with  our  regiment  guarding 
the  supply  train.  After  passing  through  Somerset  and  Wildcat  Moun- 
tains we  reach  and  ford  Cumberland  river  and  camp  for  the  night. 
Our  brigade  is  now  made  up  of  the  Forty  Fourth,  One  Hundredth, 
One  Hundred  and  Third,  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  and  One  Hun- 
dred Twelfth  Illinois,  Sixteenth  Kentucky  and  Eighth  Tennessee  In- 
fantry, the  latter  a  new  regiment  of  East  Tennessee  refugees  who 
had  been  driven  from  homes  to  Kentucky  and  organized  into  loyal 
defenders  of  the  flag,  with  Colonel  Gilbert  of  the  Forty  Fourth  Ohio 
in  command  of  the  brigade. 

July  25,  before  starting  out  on  this  march  Benjamin  Bixler 
of  Lake  township  was  transferred  to  the  engineers  battalion 
where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Since  November 
1862  he  has  been  detailed  as  teamster  where  he  remained  until  this 

60 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

transfer  was  made.  He  was  absent  without  leave  a  few  weeks, 
finally  reported  to  the  company  at  Greensboro,  N.  C,  where  he 
was  mustered  out  with  his  command  when  the  war  closed  after 
service  with  the  company  of  about  two  months. 

August  27,  Levi  Seely  of  Lake  township  is  detailed  as  team- 
ster where  he  remains  until  July  20,  1864,  returning  to  the  com- 
pany for  duty  at  Chattahoochie  river,  Georgia.  He  is  again  de- 
tailed as  teamster  at  Columbia,  Tenn.,  January,  1865  and  returned1 
for  duty  February  following  and  was  mustered  out  at  the  close 
of  the  war  after  twenty  two  months  in  the  ranks. 

While  at  this  camp  John  F.  Heacock  of  Salem,  Ohio,  is  sent 
to  the  hospital,  returning  to  the  company  for  duty  at  Knoxville, 
Term.,  September  13,  1863.  May  2,  1865  he  was  granted  a  furlough 
while  encamped  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  returning  to  the  company  at 
Greensboro,  N.  C.,  June  2.  He  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of 
the  war  after  service  in  the  ranks  of  thirty  two  months. 

Jonas  Haag  of  Marlboro  is  sent  to  the  hospital  at  the  same 
time,  returning  to  the  company  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  March  1864. 
He  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  the  close  of  the  war  after 
twenty  five  months  service. 

Seldom  pitching  our  tents  at  the  close  of  a  day's  march,  we  pre- 
pare suppers,  then  with  knapsack  or  cartridge  box  for  pillows  and 
rubber  poncho  or  tents  for  covering  we  lie  down  for  a  night's  rest. 
Daring  our  march  through  this  broken  and  mountainous  country  we 
are  often  ordered  to  unsling  knapsacks,  stack  muskets  and  pass  to  the 
rear  to  assist  wagons  and  cannons  over  these  rough  roads  and  steep 
hills.  On  the  evening  of  August  26,  we  camp  in  the  mountains  and 
are  promised  a  short  rest,  but  this  for  some  reason  was  not  given 
and  our  march  through  this  wilderness  of  hills,  rocks  and  under- 
brush is  continued  to  a  hamlet  on  the  Tennessee  border  called  Chit- 
wood  where  we  arrive  on  August  29,  too  tired  and  worn  to  build 
fires  until  after  a  short  rest  when  fires  are  built  to  prepare  supper. 
Now  we,are  to  have  a  short  rest,  meantime  the  discovery  is  made  that 
the  mules  dragging  our  supply  wagons  are  about  exhausted,  and  a 
number  given  out  entirely.  The  discovery  is  also  made  that  soldiers 
are  about  all  able  to  stand  on  end.  The  problem  is  now  solved  by 
the  quartermaster  who  issues  eight  days  rations  of  crackers,  coffee, 
sugar,  salt,  etc  to  each  soldier.  The  mules  are  now  relieved  while  we 
have  about  twenty  pounds  added  to  our  loads  and  about  the  amount 
we  had  at  the  beginning  of  this  march.  We  don't  have  to  help  the 
mules  and  horses  over  the  hard  spots  now,  but  the  mules  are  help- 
ing many  of  the  boys  who  are  climbing  in  wagons  when  exhausted 
and  for  a  few  days  we  notice  an  increase  in  the  amount  of  clothing 
and  number  of  blankets  boys  are  leaving  along  the  roadside.  The 
rations  are  consumed  by  many  in  about  one  half  the  time  the  food 
is  expected  to  last,  the  boys  preferring  to  feast  liberally  rather  than 
be  burdened  with  their  loads.  Plenty  of  chinquopins  and  occasional 
patches  of  corn  are  found  in  the  mountains,  these  helping  along.  We 
are  given  a  ration  of  fresh  beef  each  day  from  cattle  that  are  driven 
along  with  the  army  supply  train  and  slaughtered  as  needed.  Com- 
pany cooks  are  now  relieved  from  duty  and  each  man  is  supplied 

62 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

with  a  small  frying  pan,  and  cof.ee  can  or  boiler  in  which  coffee  is 
not  only  made  but  is  coarsely  ground  with  the  heel  of  a  bayonet. 

On  this  march  we  are  accompanied  by  the  First  Tennessee  Caval- 
ry under  command  of  Col.  Jim.  Brownlow,  son  of  Parson  Brownlow- 
This  father  and  son  together  with  many  members  of  this  regiment 
have  been  driven  from  their  homes  in  East  Tennessee.  Conscripting 
officers  in  Confederate  service,  and  bushwhackers  forced  these  men 
to  either  enter  the  rebel  army  or  become  refugees.  The  boys  are  now- 
headed  in  the  direction  of  their  homes  and  little  mercy  is  shown 
scouting  rebel  soldiers  and  bushwhackers  that  fall  into  their  hands. 
They  are  keep:ng  our  advance  clear  of  rebel  scouts  and  spies  and  are 
delighted^with  the  job.  Parson  Brownlow  who  accompanies  the  regi- 
ment hopes  to  reach  hrs  home  in  Knoxville  where  his  family  is  suf- 
fering at  the  hands  of  Condederates  who  now  occupy  that  city. 

We  continue  on  through  this  mountain  widerness,  over  rough  and 
difficult  roads  where  but  few  people  live  and  the  few  male  inhabitants 
who  are  able  to  bear  arms  have  gone  to  war  or  organized  into  bush- 
whacking gangs.  The  sentiment  of  Kentuckians  and  Tennesseeans 
is  about  equally  divided  between  Union  and  secession  and  many  are 
now  fighting  former  neighbors  and  friends.  During  our  march  the 
past  few  days  covering  about  thirty  miles  we  continue  to  pass  oc- 
casional clearings,  cabins  and  small  fields  with  brush  fences  on  moun- 
tain sides  and  in  narrow  valleys.  At  the  end  of  this  march  we  find  a 
-number  of  these  log  cabins  and  brush  enclosed  fields  where  our  army 
stop  for  dinner  near  a  large  spring  of  fine  water.  Here  an  aged 
man  of  the  Rip  VanWinkle  type  accompanied  by  a  number  of  women 
and  two  or  three  generations  of  children  and  dogs  make  their  ap- 
pearance. Our  army  with  the  beating  of  drums,  calls  of  the  bugle 
&nd  music  of  the  band  creates  a  great  stir  among  the  inhabitants, 
who  for  the  first  time  behold  the  flag  of  their  country.  Though  over 
80  years  of  age  the  old  gentlemen  informs  us  he  has  never  been  out 
of  the  mountains  and  really  did  not  know  there  was  so  many  people 
in  all  the  world.  This  is  surely  a  hard  road  to  travel  yet  it  is  some 
comfort  to  boys  who  are  complaining  with  sore  feet  and  stiffened 
joints  to  find  that  the  oracle's  guns  have  been  spiked  and  but  little 
,of  their  punishment  is  inflicted  as  we  march  along. 

Nick's  loyalty  is  sorely  tried  during  this  march.  He  talks  like  a 
rebel.  These  hard  marches  over  rough  mountain  roads  with  aching 
shoulders  and  blistered  heels,  seems  to  cool  his  patriotism.  Nick  is 
one  of  the  light  weights  in  company  "B",  one  whose  weight  of  har- 
ness and  cargo  strapped  upon  him,  and  his  slender  body  are  not  so 
very  far  from  being  evenly  balanced.  Nick  says  "If  this  is  the  kind 
of  country  we  are  fighting  for  I  am  in  favor  of  letting  the  rebs  take 
their  land  and  niggers  and  go  to  'ell  for  I  wouldn't  give  a  bit  an  acre 
for  all  the  land  I  have  seen  in  the  last  four  days."  "For  over  a  year," 
he  says,  "we  have  been  tramping  over  hot  dusty  pikes  or  through  snow 
and  mud  looking  for  something  no  one  wants  to  find,  and  with  the 
exception  of  two  light  skirmishes  have  found  nothing  to  fight  but 

64 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

graybacks,  and  in  the  meantime  earning  wages  of  three  bits  a  day 
for  the  benefit  of  our  sutler." 

September  1,  1863  we  again  move  forward,  fording  Clinch  river 
near  Kingston,  Tenn.,  and  continue  on  through  Clinch  Mountain  and 
Powell's  Gap  soon  reaching  a  fine  open  country  with  well  improved 
farms  and  promising  crops  of  grain  and  fruits,  thus  ending  our  march 
through  the  mountains  without  serious  interruption  from  the  enemy, 
and  on  September  4  reach  Knoxville,  Tenn.  A  few  days  before  our 
arrival  the  rebel  General  Buckner  with  his  forces  evacuates  the  city 
retreating  eastward  toward  Virginia.  Many  loyal  people  in  this  por- 
tion of  the  state  have  assembled  in  the  city  and  greet  us  with  joy- 
ful demonstrations  and  where  we  see  Stars  and  Stripes  floating  from 
homes,  all  denoting  that  a  Union  sentiment  is  strong  in  the  city  and 
throughout  portions  of  the  state  through  which  we  have  passed. 
Raising  of  the  union  flag  over  courthouse  and  other  public  buildings 
starts  another  demonstration  as  the  citizens  once  more  see  "Old 
Glory"  floating  to  the  breeze. 

Here  we  go  into  camp  and  clean  up  preparing  for  inspection.  On 
September  7,  much  to  our  surprise  our  bugler  sounds  the  assembly 
and  we  are  soon  headed  in  a  northerly  direction,  leaving  the  band 
with  the  disabled  men  and  surplus  baggage  in  the  city.  We  are 
now  making  a  flank  movement  on  Cumberland  Gap,  sixty  miles  dis- 
tant. We  make  this  march  in  two  and  one-half  days  and  on  very 
short  rations.  Following  so  closely  on  our  march  through  the  moun- 
tains the  task  is  a  trying  one  and  boys  are  wishing  for  some  of  the 
rations  wasted  while  passing  through  these  mountains.  We  again 
ford  Clinch  river  and  other  streams,  marching  far  into  the  night, 
stumbling  over  uneven  and  stony  roads  and  tired,  sore  and  hungry, 
we  finally  bivouac  near  midnight  and  long  for  a  square  meal.  Dur- 
ing the  forenoon  considerable  discussion  was  carried  on  by  our  strat- 
egists concerning  the  purpose  of  this  movement  but  no  agreement  is 
reached  before  exhaustion  has  stilled  their  voices.  Yonie  suffers  in 
an  argument  with  Fritz.  The  former  declares  it  is  "like  casting 
pearls  to  swine,"  to  try  to  hammer  any  information  into  Fritz's  head. 

On  the  following  morning  our  march  is  continued  at  an  early 
hour.  Passing  through  Maynardsville  and  Tazwell,  we  arrive  at  the 
foothills  of  the  mountains  and  camp  about  five  miles  from  Cumber- 
land Gap.  For  the  rapidity  of  this  flank  movement  and  its  results 
our  brigade  receive  a  complimentary  telegram  from  President  Lin- 
coln which  is  read  on  dress  parade. 

Our  brigade  with  Konkle  and  Shields'  batteries  make  this  march, 
with  Colonel  Gilbert  in  command  of  the  brigade  and  General  Burn- 
side  commanding  the  forces  operating  against  the  Gap. 

On  arriving  at  a  point  somewhat  nearer  the  Gap  on  the  following 
morning  we  form  in  line  of  battle  expecting  to  attack  the  enemy  ad- 
vanced line  of  defenses  and  skirmishers  are  thrown  out  who  soon 
engage  the  enemy  picket  line. 

Cumberland  Gap  is  a  narrow  roadway  leading  through  the  moun- 

65 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

tains,  a  natural  and  strong  fortification.  The  mountains  on  each  side 
of  this  passage  are  about  twelve  hundred  feet  high  and  almost  per- 
pendicular in  places.  Throughout  this  winding  roadway  at  every  bend 
the  rebels  have  planted  their  artillery  in  position  to  sweep  our  only 
route  to  meet  them  and  to  storm  the  heights  where  the  force  of  the 
enemy  occupy  their  main  position  looks  about  as  difficult  as  to  storm 
the  moon.  The  Gap  is  defended  by  a  force  of  over  two  thousand 
men  and  sixteen  pieces  of  artillery,  under  command  of  General  Fra- 
zier,  Confederate  States  Army. 

A  demand  is  made  by  General  Burnside  asking  surrender  of  the 
rebel  force  which  is  refused  by  the  rebel  general.  We  are  now  or- 
dered forward  and  drive  the  enemy  from  his  first  line  of  works  back 
to  the  fortification  in  the  Gap  and  on  the  heights  and  hold  our 
position  awaiting  orders.  Following  this,  further  negotiations  are 
going  on  between  the  two  generals  in  an  effort  to  agree  on  terms  of 
surrender.  The  time  occupied  in  coming  to  an  understanding  are 
moments  of  anxiety  to  us,  knowing  that  an  attempt  to  carry  the  Gap 
by  storm  must  be  attended  with  great  loss  of  life.  We  also  feel  quite 
certain  that  Burnside  will  order  an  assault  if  the  enemy  refuses  to 
surrender.  About  four  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  September  9,  loud 
cheering  is  heard  along  the  line  as  the  enemy  is  seen  to  lower  his 
flag  and  fling  a  white  flag  to  the  breese  in  token  of  surrender.  It  is 
reported  that  the  fort  is  occupied  by  North  Carolina  troops,  many 
of  whom  had  been  forced  into  the  Confederate  service  against  their 
will  and  are  really  loyal  union  men  and  when  a  battle  seemed  im- 
minent a  muntiny  broke  out  in  the  rebel  ranks. 

Before  dark  the  rebel  force  march  down  out  of  the  mountain  to  a 
level  plat  of  ground  and  stack  muskets  and  our  regiment  is  placed  on 
guard  over  them  until  the  following  morning,  when  we  are  relieved 
by  troops  who  conduct  the  prisoners  to  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.  We  now 
march  up  into  the  mountains  and  camp  where  the  three  states  of 
Kentucky,  Virginia  and  Tennessee  join.  On  our  way  through  this 
mountain  pass  we  meet  other  union  troops  who  have  been  operating 
on  the  north  side  of  the  gap  and  are  now  on  their  way  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Knoxville. 

Among  the  supplies  captured  is  found  a  quantity  of  flour,  meal, 
bacon,  dutch  ovens  and  frying  pans.  These  are  all  put  to  good  use 
while  we  remain  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  rations  is  prepared  for  the 
return  trip. 

While  encamped  here  Uriah  Dennis  of  Paris  township  re- 
ports to  the  company  for  duty  after  an  absence  of  fifteen  days 
on  furlough.  June  1864  while  advancing  on  the  enemy  lines  near 
Kenesaw  mountain,  Ga.,  he  receives  a  gunshot  wound  from  which 
he  died  at  the  hospital  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.  Dennis  served  faith- 
fully in  all  the  engagements  with  his  command  up  to  the  time  of 
receiving  his  death  wound. 

Filling  our  haversacks  with  an  ample  supply  of  bacon  and  "home- 
made" corn  dodgers  we  start  on  return  to  Knoxville  early  on  the 
morning  of  September  11,  1863,  entering  upon  the  march  in  a  much 

66 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

more  jubilant  frame  of  mind  than  when  we  started  out  on  this  flank 
movement.  Our  forces  have  captured  about  2.300  prisoners,  16  pieces 
of  artillery,  seven  flags  and  all  the  enemy's  small  arms  and,  best  of 
all,  a  generous  supply  of  provisions.  Our  oracles  are  now  hilarious 
and  each  is  striving  to  tell  why  the  enemy  surrendered  such  a  strong 
position  with  ample  supplies  to  withstand  a  long  siege.  Hi.  is  the 
loudest  talker  and  gets  the  floor.  Hi.  is  always  loaded  with  theories 
and  opinions  and  these  are  delivered  freely  and  forcibly.  The  argu- 
ment goes  on  as  we  march  along  rejoicing  over  our  victory  and  es- 
cape from  an  ugly  looking  job,  meantime  patiently  listening  while 
these  hardy  boys  relieve  the  pressure  crowding  their  store  of  knowl- 
edge. The  safety  valve  finally  drops  and  all  becomes  more  quiet  in 
the  ranks,  much  to  the  relief  of  all,  save  Ritchey.  He  won't  stand 
for  this.  Ritchey  is  a  splinter  under  the  nail  of  Company  "B".  He 
now  inquires  of  Yonie  where  the  sign  was  when  the  demand  was 
made  for  the  surrender  of  Cumberland  Gap  when  Yonie  informs  us 
that  the  sign  on  that  day  was  in  the  head  which  caused  contention 
in  the  rebel  ranks.  To  this  reply  Ritchey  inquires  why  this  sign 
did  not  operate  the  same  way  in  the  union  ranks. 

Then  up  goes  the  safety  valve  and  another  argument  is  on  under 
full  steam  and  everybody  "cusses"  Ritchey,  but  he  is  happy  neverthe- 
less. Yonie  will  never  break  away  from  traditions  and  superstitions 
of  his  ancestors  whose  wierd  pow-wow  ceremonies  are  applied  for 
the  cure  of  diseases,  removing  warts,  heading  off  carbuncles,  curing 
heaves  in  horses,  etc.,  and  whose  power  to  do  these  things  is  trans- 
mitted from  father  to  son.  The  old  reliable  Lancaster  almanac  is  a 
family  guide  and  signs  are  closely  watched  when  planting  crops  and 
weaning  colts,  calves  and  babies.  When  Ember  days  run  low  it  is 
believed  that  the  price  of  farm  products  is  headed  in  the  same  di- 
rection. It  was  sometimes  believed  that  a  democratic  administra- 
tion was  favorable  to  the  growth  of  rye  and  wheat,  while  a  Whig 
administration  was  believed  to  be  attended  with  Hessian  fly  and 
other  pests.  Yonie  has  gained  prestige  in  the  ranks  as  a  weather 
prophet  and  never  fails  to  remind  us  when  his  weather  predictions 
have  been  fulfilled.  Another  feature  that  adds  lustre  to  his  prestige 
is  the  fact  that  he  is  the  only  one  among  the  younger  boys  who  car- 
ries a  visible  moustache.  He  carries  a  small  pocket  mirror  that  is 
also  visible  much  of  the  time.  But  Yonie  can't  be  persuaded  to  pow- 
wow an  ugly  seed  wart  from  Fritz's  knuckle.  He's  not  going  to  stake 
his  reputation  on  so  worthless  a  subject;  in  fact  he  would  rather  add 
a  few  more  warts. 

We  reach  Tazwell,  Tenn.,  at  the  close  of  our  first  day's  march 
and  camp  for  the  night.  This  village,  the  county  seat  of  Claiborne 
county,  has  been  partly  destroyed  by  the  rebels  because  of  the  loyalty 
of  its  citizens  to  the  Union.  Our  march  is  continued  on  the  follow- 
ing morning,  passing  through  Maynardsville,  county  seat  of  Union 
county,  another  village  that  has  suffered  also  because  of  the  loyalty 
of  its  citizens  to  the  old  flag. 

67 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

We  arrive  at  Knoxville  on  the  evening  of  September  13,  where 
we  are  met  by  the  band  and  escorted  through  the  village  to  a  suitable 
position  where  we  bivouac  for  the  night.  On  the  following  morning 
we  go  into  camp  east  of  the  city,  near  the  Holston  river,  afterward 
moving  to  the  west  side  where  we  clean  up  the  grounds  and  go  into 

camp. 

September  15,  1863,  George  Lantz  of  Plain  township  is  sent 
to  the  hospital  at  Knoxville,  returning  to  the  company  for  duty 
after  two  months  absence.  He  served  in  the  ranks  until  the  close 
of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  after  thirty  two  months  service. 


KNOXVILLE,  TENNESSEE 


On  September  20,  the  bugle  again  calls  "strike  tents"  when  in 
light  marching  order  we  go  to  the  railroad,  board  the  cars  and  are 
taken  to  Henderson  station,  a  village  near  the  eastern  border  af  the 
state.  Here  we  leave  the  railroad,  passing  through  Jonesboro,  and 
march  about  twenty  miles  where  we  find  rebel  pickets  awaiting  us. 
The  prospects  for  a  fight  look  promising  but  after  a  little  skirmish- 
ing the  enemy's  main  force  cross  a  bridge  which  they  burn,  then 
retreat  into  Virginia  leaving  their  pickets  to  be  made  prisoners. 
Our  work  accomplished  we  turn  our  faces  toward  Knoxville  with  over 
200  prisoners  and  on  reaching  the  railroad,  board  the  cars  for  that 
city,  arrving  at  our  destination  on  the  morning  of  September  26. 
Here  we  march  to  the  city  and  are  placed  on  provost  guard 

September  21,  Sergeant  Robert  Chisholm  of  Lexington  town- 
ship is  placed  on  duty  at  the  city  grist  mill,  returning  to  the  com- 
pany at  Plain's  Cross  Roads  December  21  following.  June  6, 1864 
he  is  reduced  to  the  ranks  by  order  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Stearl. 
August  10  following  he  is  sent  to  the  hospital  from  where  he  is 
transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps  where  he  remains  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  having  served  with  the  company  eighteen  months. 

October  1,  1863,  Thomas  H.  B.  Correll  of  Canton  township  is 
detached  for  service  in  the  Quartermaster's  department  from 
where  he  is  discharged  March  23,  1864  and  receives  a  commission 
as  lieutenant  in  the  First  Tennessee  Heavy  Artillery  recruited! 
here  and  made  up  of  former  slaves. 

October  20,  1863,  Lientenant  Nelson  of  Canton  is  placed  on 
detached  service  in  the  Quartermaster's  department  and  remains 
here  until  the  close  of  the  war,  after  thirteen  months  service  with 
the  company. 

While  performing  these  duties  in  the  city  we  hear  of  the  warm 
political  campaign  in  Ohio  between  the  exiled  "martyr"  Vallandig- 
ham  and  John  Brough,  candidate  for  governor.  This  Vallandigham 
has  been  tried  for  treason  and  found  guilty  then  sent  through  the 
lines  to  his  friends  in  Dixie  from  where  he  makes  his  escape  and  is 
now  carrying  on  his  campaign  among  friends  in  Canada.  Here 
he  finds  support  among  sympathizing  Britishers,  rebel  conspirators, 
bounty  jumpers,  and  northern  men  who  have  taken  up  a  temporary 
residence  in  Canada  to  escape  draft.  On  election  day  our  regiment 
is  lined  up  to  cast  its  vote  and  all  vote  regardless  of  age.  Boys  of 

68 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

nineteen  and  twenty  believe  they  have  a  better  right  to  vote  than  the 
copperheads  at  home  have  to  exercise  this  privilege.  It  is  found  that 
all  these  votes  except  four  are  cast  for  Brough  and  the  boys  are  try- 
ing to  locate  the  four  rebel  voters  in  the  regiment  but  it  can't  be  done 
and  none  are  brave  enough  to  plead  guilty. 

Vallandigham  lacks  something  over  one  hundred  thousand  votes 
of  being  elected  governor,  the  soldier  vote  having  contributed  largely 
in  cooking  the  copperhead  goose. 

During  our  service  in  the  city  I  am  detailed  for  duty  on  the  non- 
commissioned staff  and  placed  in  charge  of  guards  at  the  city  grist 
mill,  which  had  been  taken  possession  of  to  supply  flour  and  meal  for 
the  army.  We  remain  on  this  duty  until  our  forces  are  driven  in  by 
the  Confederates  under  General  Longstreet  who  is  preparing  to  take 
the  city  either  by  assault  or  siege.  We  are  then  sent  to  guard  the 
arsenal  located  near  the  city  limits.  This  is  a  large  brick  building 
containing  machinery  and  a  quantity  of  condemned  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion including  the  arms  captured  at  Cumberland  Gap.  Soon  after  the 
enemy  established  lines  he  sent  a  detachment  of  troops  who  make  a 
night  raid  on  this  arsenal  when  our  sentinels  give  an  alarm.  We 
are  quickly  up  and  stirring,  apply  the  match  in  a  number  of  places 
and  see  that  the  fire  is  well  under  way,  then  make  a  hasty  retreat  to 
our  lines  with  a  number  of  whistling  bullets  traveling  in  the  same 
direction  that  fail  to  overtake  us.  The  building  and  contents  are 
soon  ablaze.  Exploding  shells  and  crack  of  musketry  is  heard  com- 
ing from  the  buildings  for  several  hours.  We  are  now  placed  in  the 
defenses  surrounding  the  city  and  the  siege  of  Knoxville  is  nearly 
complete.  A  few  days  after  taking  our  position  on  the  line  I  am 
sent  with  a  squad  of  men  to  guard  the  citizen's  prison  containing  a 
number  of  residents  who  are  suspected  of  giving  aid  and  information 
to  the  enemy. 

A  number  of  these  prisoners  have  taken  an  active  part  in  perse- 
cuting Union  citizens,  among  them  Parson  Brownlow  who  is  a  strong 
and  active  union  man  and  publisher  of  a  paper  in  the  city  until  rebel 
citizens  destroyed  his  press,  and  after  a  term  in  prison  compelled 
him  to  leave  the  city  and  become  a  refugee  within  the  union  lines. 
The  parson  has  now  returned  and  is  getting  back  at  a  few  of  his  per- 
secutors. He  leaves  the  city  again  before  the  beginning  of  the  siege 
but  while  at  home  he  exposes  these  traitors  who  are  either  imprison- 
ed or  sent  through  the  lines  to  the  Confederacy. 

While  on  this  guard  duty  I  become  acquainted  with  one  of  my 
prisoners,  a  very  friendly  sort  of  a  rebel,  whom  I  accompany  to  his 
home  in  the  city  a  number  of  times.  His  family  consists  of  two  daugh- 
ters and  a  young  son.  Here  I  am  treated  with  the  hospitality  character- 
istic of  southern  people  and  provided  with  good  dinners  that  are  now 
greatly  appreciated  for  our  rations  are  growing  less  as  the  siege  pro- 
gresses. The  father  has  nothing  to  say  concerning  the  state  of  na- 
tional affairs,  while  the  girls  make  free  to  express  their  hopes  and 

69 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

love  of  the  "sacred  cause,"  and  seem  pleased  to  find  a  listener  who 
disagrees  with  them,  one  on  whom  they  can  give  vent  to  their  feel- 
ing toward  "Lincoln  hordes  and  hirelings"  and  express  their  great 
admiration  for  the  great  patriot  Jeff.  Davis  and  the  "flag  that  bears 
the  single  star."  These  arguments  are  carried  on  in  a  friendly  way, 
however  and  I  am  shown  pictures  of  two  "boys  in  gray"  in  whom 
the  girls  are  interested  and  told  that  these  boys  are  now  with  the 
forces  that  have  formed  a  ring  about  the  city  expecting  to  starve  us  to 
the  point  of  surrender.  Yet  these  kind  hearted  girls  have  promised 
to  intercede  in  my  behalf  when  we  become  prisoners  of  war,  an  event 
they  are  earnestly  praying  for  and  believe  will  occur,  either  by  as- 
sault on  our  lines  or  by  starvation. 

Shortly  before  the  beginning  of  the  siege  Burnside  with  the 
Ninth  army  corps,  who  was  trying  to  hold  Longstreet's  army  in 
check,  is  slowly  driven  back  by  the  enemy,  and  now  occupies  de- 
fenses about  the  city,  arriving  on  November  10,  1863.  The  enemy 
now  control  all  roads  leading  out  of  the  city,  cutting  us  off  from  all 
outside  communication.  The  only  line  heretofore  open  was  by  wagon 
road  through  Cumberland  Gap  to  Kentucky  and  this  line  is  now  clos- 
ed by  the  rebel  General  Joe.  Wheeler's  cavalry.  During  the  three 
weeks  of  this  siege  our  allowance  of  food  is  gradually  reduced  until 
it  reaches  a  very  small  portion  of  salt  pork,  and  soggy  bran  bread  of 
which  the  crust  only  can  be  eaten.  I  am  fortunate  in  getting  an  oc- 
casional square  meal  from  the  friendly  rebel  family  and  fare  better 
than  the  boys  on  the  line  or  in  camp.  After  our  forces  are  driven 
back  to  the  main  lines  defending  the  city  the  siege  continues  without 
much  action  except  skirmishing  and  an  occasional  shot  or  shell  sent 
in  by  the  enemy's  artlliery  posted  on  surrounding  hills,  until  we  have 
about  reached  the  point  of  surrender  or  cutting  our  way  through  the 
enemy  lines,  when  union  scouts  make  their  way  through  the  rebel 
lines  with  the  welcome  tidings  that  General  Sherman  with  the  Fourth 
Corps  is  on  the  way  to  our  relief.  General  Longstreet  now  aware  of 
the  approach  of  Sherman  determines  to  carry  our  defenses  by  assault. 
Previous  to  this  our  men  have  cut  away  the  timber  fronting  Ft. 
Sanders,  located  near  the  outskirts  of  the  city  and  from  this  timber 
sharpened  stakes  are  made  and  constructed  into  an  abattis  placed 
some  distance  out  from  the  fort.  Around  these  high  cut  stumps  of 
trees  are  intertwined  wires  about  shin  high  and  running  in  all  direc- 
tions. The  ditch  fronting  this  fort  is  about  ten  feet  deep  and  the 
embankment  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  in  height.  Before  day  break 
on  the  morning  of  November  29,  the  enemy  advances  in  three  lines 
making  a  fierce  attack  when  the  obstructions  in  the  way  throw  their 
lines  into  confusion,  yet  they  continue  to  advance  until  the  fort  is 
reached  and  attempt  is  made  to  scale  the  walls  where  many  are 
thrown  in  the  ditch  and  slaughtered  by  hand  grenades  thrown  among 
them  by  our  troops.  At  a  second  assault  by  the  reserve  forces  the 
entire  attacking  forces  are  again  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  over  two 
hundred  men.  The  enemy  now  retire  and  give  up  the  battle  and 

70 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

send  in  a  flag  of  truce  asking  permission  to  bury  their  dead.  The  flag 
of  truce  is  met  by  union  officers  and  agreement  is  made  that  we  de- 
liver the  enemy  dead  at  a  point  between  the  lines  there  to  be  turned 
over  to  friends  for  burial.  In  the  afternoon  of  this  date  I  am  sent 
with  a  squad  of  ten  men  to  assist  in  carrying  off  the  rebel  dead  to 
the  point  agreed  upon.  On  arriving  at  the  field  we  find  that  a  num- 
ber of  places  in  the  ditch  the  dead  are  heaped  upon  each  other  and 
others  are  lying  over  the  field,  the  wounded  having  been  removed 
and  taken  to  our  hospitals.  A  portion  of  our  squad  get  down  into  the 
ditch  and  stand  these  stiffened  bodies  along  the  side  walls  of  the 
muddy  bloodstained  ditch  where  they  are  taken  out  and  carried  to 
enemy  soldiers  waiting  at  the  appointed  place  to  receive  them.  A 
few  prisoners  not  seriously  wounded  are  placed  in  our  charge  when 
we  return  to  the  city. 

Longstreet's  failure  to  take  the  city  by  storm  and  the  near  ap- 
proach of  Sherman's  army  compels  the  enemy  to  abandon  the  siege 
and  retreat  is  made  eastward  toward  Virginia.  Sherman  soon  arrives 
with  a  small  amount  of  rations  which  are  increased  as  soon  as  his 
supply  train  reaches  the  city.  Our  communications  are  now  open  with 
the  north  by  way  of  Cumberland  Gap,  our  mail  is  soon  delivered  and 
the  boys  get  a  shower  of  letters  and  packages  from  home.  Folks  at 
home  seem  to  have  kept  right  on  writing,  hoping,  perhaps,  that  by 
some  means  their  letters  would  penetrate  the  Confederate  lines. 
Their  anxiety  and  painful  suspense  during  the  siege  can  only  be  real- 
ized by  those  who  have  sons  and  brothers  suffering  and  slowly  starv- 
ing in  rebel  prisons. 

I  make  one  more  visit  with  my  rebel  prisoner  to  his  home  but  the 
former  cordial  greeting  from  the  girls  is  missing.  Yes,  the  girls  are 
angry  and  not  the  least  bit  sociable.  Their  "best  fellows"  have  failed 
to  keep  their  appointment  and  didn't  even  send  regrets,  but  instead 
they  are  "hiking"  Virginiaward.  I  am  wise  enough  not  to  refer  to  late 
events  along  the  line  for  the  girls  really  look  dangerous.  No  fumes 
of  the  customary  dinner  is  noticed  and  southern  hospitality  seems 
to  have  received  a  stunning  blow.  Our  visit  is  brief  and  an  invita- 
tion to  come  again  is  omitted  on  taking  our  departure. 

Soon  after  the  enemy  retreat  I  am  relieved  from  guard  duty  at 
the  citizens  prison  and  report  to  the  company.  Here  on  the  out- 
skirts of  the  city  the  regiment  has  built  comfortable  log  cabins  with 
double  bunks  along  the  sidewalls  and  fire  places  at  the  ends  of  these 
cabins  to  afford  heat  and  for  cooking,  where  boys  are  baking  corn 
pones  in  the  dutch  ovens  captured  at  Cumberland  Gap. 

On  the  morning  of  December  7,  our  brigade  is  called  out  early 
and  take  up  the  line  of  march  in  the  direction  of  Strawberry  Plains, 
a  small  station  on  the  East  Tennessee  &  Virginia  railroad.  After 
fording  the  icy  Holston  river  we  arrive  at  this  station  and  bivouac 
for  the  night,  continuing  our  march  on  the  following  day  to  Rutledge 
and  from  this  village  to  Bean  station,  where  we  arrive  late  and  go 

71 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

into  camp.  On  the  morning  of  December  14,  beating  of  the  long 
roll  lines  us  up  in  double  quick  time  when  we  march  eastward  at  the 
break  of  day  and  in  line  of  battle.  Our  skirmish  line  soon  meet  the 
enemy  and  a  brisk  firing  is  kept  up  while  our  main  line  advance  some 
distance,  then  we  exchange  muskets  for  shovels  and  axes  which  are 
handled  until  a  light  line  of  defense  is  built.  This  work  is  accom- 
plished in  a  very  short  time  and  on  very  short  rations  for  the  issue 
of  rations  is  now  limited  and  uncertain. 

Before  our  work  is  completed  the  enemy  is  driving  back  our 
skirmish  line  and  the  boys  are  coming  in  over  the  works  at  a  lively 
gait  as  we  pour  in  our  vollies  of  cold  lead  which  bring  the  rebels  to 
a  sudden  halt,  they  finally  retiring  from  their  advanced  position.  The 
enemy  soon  rallies  forces  and  makes  another  attempt  to  dislodge  us 
but  our  fires  seems  to  be  too  swift,  for  the  enemy  again  falls  back  and 
acts  as  though  not  spoiling  for  a  fight.  The  loss  in  our  brigade  is 
very  light  while  fifty  or  more  rebs  are  seen  laying  over  the  ground, 
or  are  being  helped  and  carried  from  the  field.  Our  skirmishers  now 
move  forward  and  take  an  advanced  position,  meanwhile  our  scouts 
report  the  enemy  receiving  reinforcements  and  changing  position  on 
our  flank.  We  now  change  lines  facing  the  enemy  and  are  saluted 
with  a  number  of  cannon  shots  on  December  16.  In  the  meantime 
our  pickets  indulge  in  frequent  spasms  of  firing.  After  dark  we  are 
permitted  to  build  an  unusual  number  of  fires  along  the  line.  The  ob- 
ject in  building  these  fires  is  easily  guessed  for  we  have  a  scant 
amount  of  food  to  cook,  and  nothing  to  warm  over,  except  our  shiv- 
ering and  ill  clad  bodies.  The  problem  is  solved  on  the  following 
morning  when  the  enemy  finds  that  nothing  is  seen  but  smoldering 
camp  fires  for  while  they  are  counting  these  fires  during  the  night  our 
brigade  is  headed  in  retreat  at  a  lively  gait  in  the  direction  of  Elaine's 
Cross  Roads.  The  rebs  are  so  disgusted  at  this  Yankee  trick  that 
they  refuse  to  follow.  Here  we  remain  until  December  27,  1863,  then 
move  forward  and  go  into  camp  at  Strawberry  Plains,  the  Valley 
Forge  of  the  Civil  War. 


STRAWBERRY  PLAINS 


The  stations  named  are  situated  on  the  East  Tennessee  &  Vir- 
ginia railroad,  with  Strawberry  Plains  about  fifteen  miles  northeast 
of  Knoxville  and  at  the  time  of  sojourn  here  but  little  is  found  to 
supply  the  needs  of  a  famishing  army.  We  have  no  base  of  supplies 
and  no  communication  with  the  north  except  over  wagon  roads  lead- 
ing through  Cumberland  Gap  to  Kentucky  and  are  depending  almost 
entirely  upon  the  surrounding  country  for  support.  While  the  pat- 
riots of  1776  had  good  shelter  and  fuel  in  abundance,  with  wild  game 
and  acorns  at  Valley  Forge,  they  could,  at  least,  keep  warm  in  their 
cabins.  At  this  camp  we  have  only  an  abundance  of  cold  river  water, 
fresh  air  and  misery,  plenty  of  pine  cones,  but  no  acorns.  We  have 

73 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

near  zero  weather  and  muslin  tents  for  shelter.  Our  clothing  is  rag- 
ged and  threadbare  for  none  has  been  drawn  since  leaving  Kentucky 
in  August  and  boys  are  longing  for  the  clothing  and  blankets  thrown 
away  during  the  march  through  the  mountain's.  One  rubber  blanket 
or  poncho  and  well  worn  wool  blanket  for  each  man  with  other  odds 
and  ends  of  citizens  clothes  picked  up  is  about  the  extent  of  clothes 
and  bedding.  A  few  boys  have  fragments  of  overcoats  with  tails 
more  or  less  burned  away  while  standing  around  fires.  To  find  a 
measure  of  comfort  we  close  one  end  of  our  pup  tents  with  cedar 
brush  and  build  fires  at  the  opposite  end.  Our  fuel  consists  of  green, 
pine  wood  carried  from  a  considerable  distance  with  which  we  smoke 
our  faces  and  eyes  and  warm  our  famishing  bodies  during  this  mem- 
orable cold  winter. 

Before  our  advent  into  this  part  of  East  Tennessee  much  of  the 
surplus  supplies  have  been  taken  by  the  enemy.  Longstreet's  retreat- 
ing army  has  but  recently  passed  over  this  territory  and  cleaned  up- 
all  the  eatables  in  sight.  Many  of  the  citizens  who  have  hidden  their 
provisions  from  raiding  soldiers  are  provided  with  food  for  their 
own  use,  while  others  in  this  vicinity  are  about  as  poorly  provided 
for  as  ourselves,  which  leaves  poor  picking  for  us.  A  few  of  the  old 
time  grist  mills  are  found  along  streams  emptying  into  the  Holston 
river,  which  flows  near  our  camping  grounds  and  a  number  of  these 
mills  are  pressed  into  service  by  Quartermasters  who  call  for  vol- 
unteers from  the  ranks  to  operate  them  and  grind  grain  occasionally 
found  by  our  forage  teams.  When  this  detail  for  millers  is  called 
for  "Dad"  Schooley  presents  himself.  Now  when  "Dad"  enlisted  he 
gave  his  occupation  as  saddler  and  harness  maker  but  this  is  an  op- 
portunity he  don't  want  to  miss.  "Dad"  tries  not  to  miss  any  good 
things  that  are  headed  his  way ;  he's  not  a  dodger.  During  "Dad's" 
boyhood  days  he  spent  considerable  time  at  the  old  grist  mill  and 
swimming  hole  down  on  Bull  Creek,  Columbiana  county,  when  his 
mother  thought  he  was  in  school.  "Dad"  had  noticed  that  when 
the  miller  wanted  to  start  the  machinery  going  he  raised  the  flood 
gate  and  let  the  water  on  the  wheel  and  to  stop  the  machinery  the 
miller  closed  the  floodgate.  "Dad"  also  noticed  that  before  grinding, 
the  miller  always  emptied  the  grain  in  the  hopper.  This  is  sufficient 
and  he  scores  enough  points  as  a  miller  to  mislead  the  Quartermaster 
and  secures  the  job.  In  the  matter  of  toll  to  be  charged  for  custom 
work  among  the  natives,  this  is  left  to  George;  the  Quartermaster 
just  "lets  George  do  it."  But  his  job  at  the  mill  does  not  last  long 
for  the  nearby  country  is  stripped  of  almost  everything  in  the  eatable 
line.  All  the  corn  found  can  be  ground  with  our  teeth,  or  with  the 
army  grist  mill,  after  it  is  parched. 

Here  the  toll  habit  fastened  itself  to  "Dad".  Soon  after  the  close 
of  the  war  he  settled  down  in  Alliance,  Ohio,  and  worked  this  habit 
successfully  for  about  fifty  years  and  now  (1919)  is  one  of  the  few 
survivors  of  the  company  and  of  the  business  men  of  a  half  century 
ago. 

74 


Footprints  Through  Dixfe 

George  Schooley  enlisted  at  Salem,  Ohio,  and  was  transferred 
from  Company  "G"  to  Company  "B"  when  the  regiment  was  or- 
ganized. August  15,  1864  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  returning 
for  duty  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  following.  January  1865, 
while  the  Twenty  Third  was  passing  through  Ohio  he  with  four 
other  members  of  the  company  left  the  train  at  Bellaire,  Ohio, 
on  leave  of  absence  issued  on  the  "French"  plan,  and  after  an  ab- 
sence of  about  thirty  days  reported  to  the  company  for-  duty.  He 
was  mustered  out  of  service  at  the  close  of  the  war  after  twenty 
nine  months  faithful  service  m  the  ranks. 

While  we  are  having  this  struggle  with  cold  and  hunger  GeneraJ 
Grant  passes  through  Strawberry  Plains  by  rail  on  his  way  from 
Chattanooga,  Tenn..  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  Virginia  where 
he  will  probably  partake  of  the  car  loads  of  roast  turkey  and  other 
good  eatables  sent  to  that  army,  for  a  holiday  feast.  If  there  is  any 
turkeys  within  ten  miles  of  Strawberry  Plains,  the  fowls  are  se- 
curely hidden.  At  this  time  it  would  not  be  safe  for  a  turkey  buzzard 
to  appear  in  camp.  Seely  declares  that  his  graybacks  are  actually 
.starving  an-d  Ritchey  appears  at  sick  call  and  informs  the  doctor  he 
is  afflicted  with  indigestion.  The  surgeon  takes  the  hint  and  sends 
Ritchey  to  the  quartermaster  and  while  loafing  around  he  swipes  an 
ear  of  the  quartermaster's  corn.  When  Ritchey  appears  in  camp  a 
•comrade  calls  him  aside  and  asks  the  loan  of  five  dollars.  Much  re- 
lieved Ritchey  quickly  hands  over  the  money  for  he  suspects  this 
comrade  is  after  a  portion  of  his  corn.  If  anyone  can  cast  a  ray  of 
sunshine  amid  this  gloom,  Ritchey  can  do  this  as  well  as  inflict  pun- 
ishment. He  takes  a  rational  view  of  the  situation  and  blames  no  one 
except  the  enemy  who  we  are  after — when  they  are  not  after  us. 
Everything  is  lovely  with  Ritchey,  but  we  are  in  depths  of  poverty, 
yet  supplied  with  money  which  now  has  but  little  value  as  a  means 
to  supply  our  needs.  A  strange  and  distressing  situation  for  no 
amount  of  money  can  add  to  our  comfort.  It  has  not  been  long  since 
we  received  pay  and  all,  who  have  not  lost  money  on  the  chuckluck 
board,  are  provided  with  funds.  These  crisp,  new  greenbacks  are  fine 
to  look  upon  as  works  of  art  which  might  be  framed  and  hung  upon 
walls  if  we  had  walls  to  hang  them  on. 

Jake  marks  a  few  numbers  on  a  piece  of  oil  cloth  and  during  his 
rambles  in  adjoining  camps  he  meets  a  few  strangers — and  takes  them 
in,  returning  in  a  few  hours  with  pockets  stuffed  with  greenbacks. 
From  each  pocket  he  produces  a  handful  of  these  fine  works  of  art 
and  after  being  carefully  sorted  and  ironed  out  he  has  added  about 
eight  hundred  dollars  to  his  wealth,  but  he  cannot  eat  the  greenbacks 
and  would  gladly  give  up  a  portion  of  his  wealth  to  any  one  who 
would  produce  a  Kentucky  dried  apple  pie.  At  night  we  are  sitting 
by  our  fires  nodding  and  sleeping  unjtil  wakened  by  cold  or  lie  down 
by  these  fires  and  by  frequent  turning  pass  through  a  restless  night. 

The  following  written  in  my  diary  by  Sergeant  Triem  gives  his 
view  of  the  situation  at  this  camp : — 

"Here  more  suffering  was  patiently  endured  than  at  any  other 
place  during  the  war.  (prisons  excepted)  The  weather  is  intensely 

75 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

cold,  our  clothing  is  poor  and  scant  and  the  green  wood  we  burn  is 
carried  a  long  distance.  Then  to  add  to  this  distress  our  rations 
are  short,  and  without  the  corn  we  sometimes  find  hidden  away  by 
natives  we  would  certainly  perish  from  hunger  and  cold.  Some  days 
we  draw  a  few  crackers  and  the  next  day,  perhaps  a  few  quarts  of 
corn  meal  for  the  company,  and  at  one  time  a  pint  of  this  meal  was 
drawn  for  a  day's  rations  for  the  company,  together  with  a  quarter 
ration  of  beef.  For  seven  long  dreary  days  while  the  mercury  is 
hovering  around  zero,  our  rations  were  reduced  to  a  quarter  ration 
of  beef  only,  and  this  beef  was  taken  from  carcasses  of  cattle  which 
like  ourselves  are  on  the  verge  of  starvation.  Soldiers  are  seen 
gathering  up  waste  corn  which  is  washed  and  then  parched.  The 
army  coffee  mill  which  consists  of  an  ordinary  tin  cup,  with  the  heel 
of  the  bayonet  as  a  pulverizer,  is  used  and  this  cracked,  parched  corn 
is  fried  in  the  scant  amount  of  grease  fried  from  the  beef,  or  served 
as  parched  corn',  plain." 

Mrs.  Livermore,  in  her  "Story  of  the  War"  says:  "No  pen  can 
depict,  no  tongue  narrate  the  suffering,  hardships  and  privations  of 
our  brave  men  in  Tennessee  during  the  winter  months  of  1863-4. 
Hunger  and  cold,  famine  and  nakedness  were  then  inseparable  com- 
panions. Horses  and  mules  starving  by  thousands.  The  reproachful 
whinnying  complaints  of  famishing  beasts  wrung  the  hearts  of  sol- 
diers, who  even  were  slowly  dying  themselves  for  lack  of  food." 

On  New  Years  eve,  1863-4  mercury  touched  the  zero  point  in  East 
Tennessee.  The  last  two  hours  of  the  dying  year  I  am  on  guard  at 
regimental  headquarters.  Before  going  on  doty  a  few  handsful  of 
parched  corn  is  deposited  in  my  pants  pocket  which  aid  somewhat  in 
keeping  me  warm  while  the  corn  lasts.  Now,  after  an  interval  of  fifty 
five  years  this  "living  picture  on  memory's  wall"  again  appears  with 
a  very  distinct  recollection  of  my  surroundings  on  that  clear  cold 
night.  Off  at  a  distance  comrades  are  seen  standing  around  the  log 
fires  turning  first  one  side  and  then  the  other  to  the  warmth  and 
smoke.  Others  are  sitting,  nodding  and  napping  at  small  fires  front- 
ing their  tents.  A  few  are  seen  winding  their  way  back  and  forth 
around  the  hillside  carrying  or  in  search  of  fuel.  Thus  as  a  sentinel  I 
spent  by  twentieth  New  Years  eve  witnessing  the  suffering  of  boys 
who  have  sacrificed  the  comforts  of  homes  and  exposed  to  this 
biting,  wintry  weather.  By  marching  back  and  forth  briskly  and 
stamping  my  feet  upon  the  frozen  ground  I  am  able  to  pass  the  time 
as  comfortably,  perhaps  as  the  men  in  their  quarters.  My  clothing 
consists  of  a  portion  of  an  army  blanket  tied  about  my  head  and 
shoulders.  A  badly  wrecked  cap,  blouse  and  shirt  in  fairly  good  con- 
dition, with  shoes  almost  soleTess,  and  without  gloves  or  mittens. 
A  pair  of  citizens  tight  fitting  pants  burned  away  to  the  knees  while 
standing  about  our  log  fires  and  the  missing  portions  supplied  with 
pieces  of  rubber  blankets  tied  about  my  legs  and  worn  until  I  ac- 
quired the  name  of  "Doc."  This  is  a  fair  description  of  the  condi- 

76 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

tiort  of  other  members  of  the  company  which  now  numbers  less  thars 
thirty  men  able  for  duty. 

Joe.  appears  in  camp  with  an  aged  rooster  under  his  arm  and 
raffles  his  fowl  off  at  about  the  price  o-f  a  horse.  Joe  attends  the 
chuckluck  parties  quite  regularly  and  has  probably  been  dropping  his 
money  on  wrong  numbers  and  needs  the  cash.  Money  is  plentiful 
with  a  number  of  the  boys  and  almost  worthless  to  us  now,  so- 
there  is  no  trouble  in  organizing  a  "club"  at  his  own  price.  I  take  a 
chance  on  the  fowl  and  while  no  regrets  is  felt  over  the  loss  of 
money,  failure  to  draw  the  prize  is  a  sore  disappointment.  Joe  is  a 
wonderfully  successful  forager  and  if  there  is  anything  in  the  eat- 
able line  to  be  found  he  gets  it  and  seldom  strikes  a  cold  trail. 

Discipline  under  these  distressing  circumstances  is  less  severe  yet 
guard  mounting  and  roll  call  is  never  neglected.  Boys  fall  out  at 
morning  roll  call,  then  qaickly  get  back  in  their  bunks  or  back  up  at 
log  fires  where  their  time  is  spent  when  not  on  the  hunt  of  fuel,  food, 
or  on  duty.  After  a  restless  night  and  about  the  time  some  are  in  a 
position  to  enjoy  a  little  sleep,  perhaps,  the  reveille  call  is  heard. 
Names  of  the  boys  responsible  for  this  added  affliction  i  s  Mort. 
Southworth,  drummer  and  Tony  Friberger,  fifer,  but  they  are  not  al- 
ways called  by  these  names  for  nearly  every  occupant  of  a  tent  has 
a  different  name  to  hurl  at  these  disturbers  of  their  rest.  Mort.  and 
Tony  are  not  responsible  for  the  enemies  they  are  making  for  they 
have  a  standing  order  to  create  this  disturbance  at  a  certain  hour 
each  morning.  But  this  standing  order  does  not  protect  the  boys  who 
are  caught  in  the  act  of  adding  to  our  troubles.  With  the  power  of 
reasoning  frozen  and  starved  we  are  not  in  a  condition  to  solve  the 
simplest  problems.  Hungry  mules  are  "making  music  all  the  day"  as 
well  as  during  the  night.  They  have  eaten  the  wagon  boxes,  barked 
the  trees  and  eaten  all  the  brush  within  reach  and  are  dying.  The 
beeves  from  which  we  draw  our  daily  quarter  ration  of  beef  are 
nearing  the  point  of  starvation.  A  few  die  before  their  time  and 
these  carcasses  are  thrown  in  the  river. 

Steve  Jarrett  appears  in  camp  with  a  shin  bone  of  one  of  these 
slaughtered  beeves  from  which  he  prepares  a  delayed  Christmas  din- 
ner by  throwing  this  bone  in  the  fire  to  roast  for  a  short  time.  The 
bone  is  then  taken  out  and  broken  and  Steve's  long  bony  finger  re- 
moves the  marrow  and  a  dinner  is  properly  enjoyed,  but  Steve  can't 
eat  the  bone  and  reluctantly  throws  this  away.  When  dinner  is  over 
Steve  has  an  oily  face  and  one  clean  finger. 

Stephen  Jarrett  enlisted  from  Paris  township  and  during  his 
term  of  service  never  answered  a  sick  call.  With  the  exception 
of  two  months  on  guard  duty  at  the  commissary  department,  he 
served  his  entire  term  of  entlistment  on  duty  with  the  company 
and  is  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  one  of  the 
thirteen  survivors  at  this  time,  1919. 

January  1,  1864,  having  obtained  leave  of  absence  for  two  days, 
accompanied  by  Orderly  Henry  Vick,  we  celebrate  the  day  by  going 
out  on  a  foraging  expedition.  With  guns  and  accoutrements  in  or- 

78 


Footprints  Through 

der  we  start  out  early  with  a  determination  of  finding  either  food 
or  possibly  a  foot  race  with  bushwhackers.  There  is  nothing  like 
"hunger  to  brace  up  one's  courage.  After  visiting  a  number  of  farms 
^where  people  seem  to  be  without  means  of  support  we  find  a  rather 
prosperous  looking  plantation.  On  making  inquiry  for  something  in 
the  eatable  line  the  planter  informs  us  that  he  has  nothing  to  spare, 
in  fact  he  does  not  answer  our  questions  m  a  pleasant  tone  of  voice. 
He  is  anything  but  sociable  and  intimates  that  our  presence  is  not 
desired.  We  think  he  is  perfectly  sincere  in  this  and  believe  him,  but 
are  in  doubt  about  the  supply  of  eatables  that  might  be  found.  We 
offer  to  pay  but  perhaps  he  does  not  like  our  kind  of  money.  Then 
he  goes  on  to  say  "You'ns  wanter  to  be  keerful  for  bushwhackers  are 
'round  hure  'most  every  day  lookin'  for  you'ns,  who  are  runnin'  round 
outside  the  Yankee  lines."  This  time  we  don't  believe  him,  but  pass 
on  around  the  house  on  a  tour  of  investigation  and  become  interested 
in  a  small  log  building  that  looks  and  smells  like  a  smoke  house. 
While  trying  the  door  and  peeking  through  cracks  in  the  building, 
Mr.  Planter  appears  and  starts  an  argument.  Pointers  we  have  gath- 
ered during  the  past  years  from  Reilly  aid  us  in  meeting  this  argu- 
ment and  when  it  is  ended  Mr.  Planter  "stands  without  hitching," 
but  refuses  to  unlock  the  door  and  says  he  is  going  to  enter  com- 
plaint to  the  commanding  officer.  With  a  maul  found  at  a  wood  pile 
Vick  knocks  a  hinge  from  the  door  and  enters  the  building  while  I 
stand  guard  over  our  victim.  Vick  soon  appears  with  a  ham  and  slab 
of  bacon  and  informs  this  victim  that  he  has  left  enough  jowls  and 
bacon  he  thinks,  to  last  the  family  until  butchering  time.  Mr.  Planter 
now  changes  his  mind  about  pay,  and  so  have  we,  but  tell  him  if  he 
can  prove  his  loyalty  he  might  be  able  to  collect  from  the  quarter- 
master of  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninety  Seventh  Rhode  Island  regi- 
ment. On  leaving  the  premises  we  notice  the  ends  of  rails  sticking 
from  a  stack  of  straw  and  on  investigation  this  is  found  to  be  a  rail 
pen  filled  with  corn  and  shaped  up  to  imitate  a  stack.  A  sack  is  found 
in  the  barn  and  partly  filled.  After  committing  this  robbery  our  jour- 
ney is  continued  in  the  direction  of  camp  and  we  soon  reach  the  rail- 
road where  we  stop  to  rest  and  shell  the  corn.  Toward  evening  we 
call  at  a  cabin  and  ask  permission  to  remain  over  night.  We  notice 
the  woman  of  the  house  is  frightened  and  cannot  really  be  blamed  for 
we  have  but  little  clothing  resembling  a  uniform,  only  the  U.  S.  plates 
on  our  belts  and  cartridge  boxes  to  distinguish  us  from  the  many 
bushwackers  who  have  infested  the  country  since  the  beginning  of 
the  war.  Much  of  the  clothing  now  worn  by  Union  soldiers  encamp- 
ed at  Strawberry  Plains  has  been  picked  up  and  bought  and  consists 
of  garments  of  every  description  regardless  of  cut  or  color.  The 
woman  finally  allows  us  to  enter  the  cabin  and  we  are  given  seats 
at  the  old  fire  place  where  dutch  oven  and  crane  and  other  old  type 
cooking  utensils  are  seen.  Her  fears  are  finally  quieted  when  two 
small  children  who  have  been  in  hiding  make  their  appearance. 
While  preparing  corn  bread,  bacon  and  hominy  for  our  suppers  the 

79 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

woman  relates  some  of  the  torments  suffered  by  Union  people  in 
this  neighborhood  since  the  beginning  of  the  war.  Her  husband  has 
been  driven  from  home  and  for  a  time  was  secreted  in  the  hills  and 
caves,  finally  working  his  way  through  the  mountains  to  Kentucky 
where  he  with  other  loyal  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  refugees  were  or- 
ganized into  companies  and  regiments  of  Union  soldiers.  The  wo- 
man says  Union  citizens  have  been  shot  or  hung  or  forced  into  the 
rebel  army.  Others  who  have  escaped  have  suffered  loss  of  prop- 
erty left  behind  which  was  either  carried  away  or  burned.  She  also 
informs  us  that  the  man  from  whom  we  confiscated  the  meat  and 
corn  is  a  rebel  who  has  aided  rebel  conscripting  officers  in  locating 
citizens  who  are  suspected  of  being  loyal  to  the  Union,  and  has  a 
son  serving  in  the  rebel  ranks.  We  remain  over  night  and  to  avoid 
surprise  from  roving  bushwhackers  we  bunk  down  in  front  of  the 
only  door  in  the  cabin  and  rest  undisturbed.  We  leave  early  on  the 
following  morning,  first  paying  the  good  woman  liberally,  then  follow 
her  direction  to  a  grist  mill  where  our  corn  is  soon  ground  and  then 
we  push  for  camp  arriving  there  in  good  time  after  traveling  about 
twenty  miles.  Here  the  boys  flock  around  offering  extravagant 
prices  for  anything  in  the  eatable  line.  Money  is  not  much  of  an 
object  to  either  party  so  we  divide  up  not  forgetting  to  keep  a  lib- 
eral share  for  ourselves.  But  the  boys  are  all  hungry.  We  cannot 
sit  down  to  a  full  meal  of  pork  and  corn  dodgers  knowing  that  others 
are  suffering  from  hunger,  consequently  our  supplies  are  soon  gone 
and  all  enjoy  the  feast,  and  together  suffer  the  famine  that  fol- 
lows. 

On  January  4,  the  regiment  is  ordered  out  on  scout  duty  but  the 
Colonel  reports  that  the  men  are  unfit  for  duty  of  this  nature  when 
the  order  is  countermanded.  Boys  are  seen  sitting  in  their  tents 
mending  and  patching  their  clothing.  Cast  off  clothing  is  picked  up 
and  used  to  repair  garments  that  afford  poor  protection  during  this 
cold  weather. 

The  base  of  my  chum's  pants  has  given  way  and  in  repairing 
the  damage  without  removing  the  garment  I  make  the  mistake  of 
sewing  pants  and  shirt  together.  When  the  discovery  is  made 
my  chum  is  angry  and  refuses  to  accept  an  apology  for  this  mistake 
declaring  I  did  it  on  purpose  and  would  have  sewed  the  garments  to 
his  hide  had  he  not  found  it  out  in  time. 

While  encamped  here  the  Forty  Fourth  Ohio  regiment  and  First 
Ohio  artillerymen  are  re-enlisting  and  sent  home  on  furlough  to  re- 
main there  until  their  commands  are  re-organized.  How  we  envy 
these  boys  who  are  now  relieved  from  camp  "starvation"  as  they  call 
it.  Union  refugees  who  have  been  secreted  in  the  mountains  are 
coming  into  camp  and  sent  forward  to  Knoxville  and  organized  into 
loyal  Tennessee  regiments.  January  5,  1864  I  am  on  guard  duty  at 
headquarters  and  write  a  letter  home,  sending  my  1863  diary. 

Longstreet's  rebel  army  has  retreated  into  Virginia  and  the  bat- 

81 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

tie  of  Chattanooga  has  been  fought  and  won.  We  hear  that  rail 
communications  will  be  open  with  the  north  as  soon  as  repairs  on 
railroads  and  bridges  can  be  made  when  supplies  will  be  forwarded 
to  that  city  and  from  there  to  Knoxville.  Hope,  and  a  little  parched 
corn  with  other  odds  and  ends  picked  up,  now  sustain  us  but  does 
not  protect  the  army  from  the  wintry  blasts  of  the  memorable  cold 
winter  of  1863-4. 

January  12,  our  company  is  sent-  out  on  picket  duty,  weather 
moderating  and  snow  falling.  We  return  to  camp  on  January  13  and 
find  the  command  under  marching  orders  and  everybody  happy.  On 
January  14  reveille  call  is  sounded  at  three  o'clock  and  not  a  kick 
or  complaint  is  heard.  We  are  all  anxious  to  escape  the  tortures  of 
this  camp  and  Tony  and  Mort.  are  congratulated  as  earl}'  risers. 
About  thirty  members  of  the  company  are  able  to  line  up  for  a  march 
to  Knoxville  and  others  unable  to  march  are  conveyed  in  ambulances 
or  wagons.  No  straggling  on  the  line  today  for  we  arrive  at  Knox- 
ville ahead  of  time  and  immediately  occupy  our  old  quarters  in  the 
log  cabins,  a  hungry  and  happy  lot  of  boys.  Here  we  are  supplied 
with  good,  warm  clothing  and  plenty  of  rations,  the  first  full  rations 
and  supply  of  clothing  we  have  drawn  since  camped  in  the  Cumber- 
land mountains  in  August.  The  pile  of  old  hats,  caps,  shoes  and  frag- 
ments of  other  garments  on  exhibition  after  the  Quartermaster 
opened  a  number  of  boxes  is  a  sight  that  attracts  considerable  at- 
tention and  the  graybacks  are  left  to  their  fate.  But  like  Topsy, 
they  "just  grow'd"  and  are  soon  on  duty  again. 


KNOXVILLE  WHIG  AND  REBEL  VENTILATOR 


Parson  Brownlow,  a  noted  resident  of  the  city  returns  to  his 
home  and  re-establishes  his  newspaper  naming  it  "The  Knoxville 
Whig  And  Rebel  Ventilator,"  an  appropriate  name  for  he  proceeds  at 
once  to  ventilate,  not  only  the  Confederacy,  but  also  the  record  of 
disloyal  citizens  who  have  persecuted  Union  people  since  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war.  The  parson  ranks  right  along  with  Reilly  when  it 
comes  to  saying  things  with  a  stinger  in  every  sentence.  The  bravery 
of  the  Brownlow  family  and  their  devotion  to  the  union  cause  is  a 
part  of  the  history  of  the  times.  Brownlow's  fearless  daughter  who 
flings  the  Stars  and  Stripes  to  the  breeze  in  defiance  of  passing  rebel 
troops  will  long  be  remembered  by  East  Tennesseeans  who,  with  this 
family  suffered  and  sacrificed  much  by  reason  of  their  loyalty  to  the 
Union. 

In  resuming  publication  of  his  paper  Parson  Brownlow  says  in 
his  characteristic  way: — 

"The  Knoxville  Whig  and  Rebel  Ventilator  will  be  INDEPEND- 
ENT in  all  things  and  neutral  in  nothing,  taking  a  hand  in  all  the  con- 
troversies of  the  day.  It  will  be  an  UNCONDITIONAL  Union 
Journal,  holding  up  all  participants  in  the  rebellion  as  a  choice  col- 
lection of  men  for  a  Rogues  gallery.  At  the  same  time  it  will  make 
war  upon  all  gamblers  and  thieves,  both  north  and  south, — those 
whose  trade  is  to  rob  the  public,  as  well  as  private  pilferers,  the 
whiskey  bloats,  the  bullies  in  elections,  oppressors  who  grind  the 
face  of  the  poor,  extortioners  in  trade  who  swindle  by  wholesale  and 
retail,  and  all  foul-mouthed  secession  sympathizers  and  other  disturb- 
ers of  the  peace  in  the  various  sink-holes  of  society." 

The  parson  is  a  Methodist  preacher,  as  well  as  an  editor,  and  a 
whig  in  politics  who  believes  in  the  divine  right  to  hold  his  fellow 
man  in  bondage  and  produces,  from  his  view  point,  strong  argument 
in  favor  of  slavery,  yet  opposes  secession  and  has  suffered  imprison- 
ment and  banishment  from  his  home.  Before  this  banishment  from  his 
home  and  destruction  of  his  press  he  was  urged  by  friends  to  come 
out  on  the  side  of  the  "sacred  cause"  to  which  the  Parson  replies  in 
part  as  follows : 

"I  join  the  southern  democracy?  You  know  not  what  you  say. 
When  I  do  the  Pope  of  Rome  will  join  the  Methodist  church.  When 
you  become  president  of  the  Republic  of  Great  Britain;  when  Alex- 
ander of  Russia  and  Napoleon  of  France  are  elected  members  of  con- 
gress ;  when  good  men  cease  to  go  to  heaven  or  bad  men  to  hell ; 
when  proof  is  found  that  there  is  no  God;  I  will  change  my  political 
faith  and  come  out  on  the  side  of  your  democracy.  Hoping  this  will 
enable  you  to  fix  the  period  when  I  will  join  your  brand  of  democ- 
racy. I  have  the  honor,  etc.  W.  G.  Brownlow. 


Again,  in  reply  to  threats  against  his  life  made  by  rebel  neigh- 
bors this  fighting  parson  says  in  part : 

"If  these  god  forsaken  scoundrels  and  hell  deserving  assassins 
want  satisfaction  out  of  me  for  what  I  have  said  about  them, — and 
it  has  been  no  little, — they  can  find  me  on  the  streets  every  day  but 
Sunday.  I  am  at  all  times  prepared  to  give  them  satisfaction.  I  take 
back  nothing  I  have  said  against  the  corrupt  and  unprincipled  vil- 
lains, but  reiterate  all,  and  hurl  down  their  lying  threats,  their  own 
infamous  calumnies." 

In  replying  to  a  brother  minister  in  the  Methodist  church,  living 
in  South  Carolina,  imploring  the  Parson  to  "espouse  the  cause  of 
southern  rights,"  Brownlow  replies  as  follows : 

"It  is  plain  to  be  seen  that  the  same  spirit  of  disloyalty  to  the 
Union  which  prevailed  in  1832  is  now  working  in  the  hearts  of  Breck- 
enridge  unbelievers;  and  a  similar  fate  awaits  them.  Nullification 
has  been  attended  with  the  worst  of  consequences  in  all  ages.  In 
the  garden  of  Eden,  our  first  parents  were  induced  by  the  devil,  in 
the  form  of  a  serpent,  to  nullify  the  laws  of  God;  and,  believing  it 
to  be  a  peaceful  remedy,  they  made  the  dreadful  experiment.  Cain, 
in  the  case  of  Abel,  nullified  the  law  of  God,  and  he  was  branded  in 
the  forehead  as  a  traitor  and  murderer.  The  nation  of  Jews  who 
perished  in  the  siege  of  Jerusalem  were  all  nullifiers.  So  were  the  re- 
bellious inhabitants  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  And  the  antedeluvians, 
for  their  South  Carolina  politics,  encountered  the  very  devil  in  the 
days  of  the  flood.  And  had  the  South  Carolina  nulliflers  gone  a  little 
further  with  their  scheme  of  secession,  Old  Hickory  Jackson  would 
have  drowned  them  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston." 


CHAPTER  IV. 


KNOXVILLE,  TENN.  AND  RETURN 


On  January  19,  we  are  hurried  out  on  a  forced  march,  crossing 
the  river  and  over  the  heights  a  few  miles  from  the  c.ity  to  meet  an 
attack  from  rebel  raiders,  every  man  wearing  a  new  overcoat,  a 
smile  and  a  clean  face.  Here  we  find  these  raiders  have  captured 
five  of  our  supply  wagons  together  with  teamsters,  guards  and  about 
one  hundred  head  of  cattle  and  got  away  with  them.  We  remain 
here  in  camp  a  few  days,  from  where  we  plainly  see  outlines  of  the 
Great  Smoky  mountains  on  the  North  Carolina  border,  then  return 
to  our  cabins  which  have  been  occupied  during  our  absence  by  a  few 
guards  and  the  band.  During  our  absence  the  band  boys  have  been 
serenading  citizens  and  enjoying  feasts  supplied  by  friendly  and  loyal 
people  of  Knoxville.  Our  band  seldom  accompany  us  on  these  scouts 
and  is  spared  many  of  the  hardships  and  dangers  found  in  military 
service. 

While  out  on  this  reconnoitre  Sergeant  Raber  of  Lake  town- 
ship is  reduced  to  the  ranks  for  some  slight  neglect  of  duty,  but 
soon  is  restored  to  bis  former  position.  With  Christian  fortitude 
Raber  endures  the  many  irritating  shots  inflicted  by  the  boys 
during  the  few  days  he  serves  in  the  ranks.  June  16,  1864  Raber 
is  sent  to  the  hospital  where  he  remains  two  months,  returning  to 
the  company  during  the  seige  of  Atlanta.  After  thirty  two  months 
service  with  he  company  he  is  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the 
war.  Sergeant  Raber  is  past  thirty-five  years  of  age  and  one  of 
the  few  "old  men"  in  the  company,  faithful  in  the  performance  of 
duty.  He  freely  reprimands  boys  for  bad  behavior  and  settles 
their  quarrels.  He  occupies  a  trying  position  in  his  effort  to  rec- 
oncile military  necessity  with  Christian  duty. 

January  25,  1864,  we  are  again  on  patrol  duty  in  the  city  where  I 
buy  a  new  diary  at  a  cost  of  seventy-five  cents,  the  price  of  about 
two  days'  service.  (These  books  are  now  found  in  our  nickel  and 
dime  stores.) 

During  our  stay  here  loyal  Tennesseeans,  who  have  been 
driven  from  their  homes  or  secreted  in  mountains  and  caves,  continue 
to  return  to  their  homes  and  enlist  in  the  Union  service,  forming 
new  Tennessee  regiments. 

Former  slaves  are  also  enlisting  in  the  Union  service  and  twelve 
hundred  of  these  freemen  have  enlisted  here  to  be  formed  into  the 
First  Tennessee  Heavy  Artillery,  and  officered  by  soldiers  taken 
from  the  ranks  of  northern  troops. 

We  are  enjoying  our  stay  in  Knoxville  with  plenty  of  rations, 
comfortable  clothing  and  quarters.  After  our  experience  at  Camp 

83 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

"Valley  Forge"  we  are  surely  in  a  position  to  enjoy  these  comforts 
to  the  fullest  extent.  A  number  of  men  who  succumbed  to  the  priva- 
tions and  exposure  during  that  time  are  now  returning  for  duty, 
though  many  in  our  brigade  died  of  pneumonia  while  others  afflicted 
with  scurvy  are  discharged  or  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps. 

Rebel  sympathizers  remaining  in  the  city  are  keeping  very  quiet. 
While  on  this  patrol  duty  we  are  also  performing  police  duty,  and 
find  a  large  majority  of  the  citizens  loyal  to  the  union..  These 
citizens  fully  appreciate  the  protection  we  are  giving  them  and  are 
very  friendly  and  hospitable.  Boys  enjoy  their  acquaintance  and 
companionship  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  regiment  be- 
comes quite  popular  with  the  people.  While  on  this  duty  we  arrested 
two  men  who  are  suspected  of  being  spies  and  turned  them  over  to 
the  Provost  Marshal.  After  a  short  examination  these  suspects  are 
ordered  handcuffed  and  locked  up  in  the  city  prison  for  trial  or 
further  examination. 

February  4,  1864,  George  Coy,  a  recruit,  of  Salem,  Ohio,  re- 
ports to  the  company  for  duty.  April  27,  following,  he  is  sent  to 
the  hospital  from  where  he  is  detailed  as  ambulance  driver  and 
returns  to  the  company  in  September  following.  After  five 
month's  service  in  the  ranks  he  is  transferred  to  the  One  Hundred 
and  Eighty-Third  Ohio  regiment. 

March  17,  1864,  Philip  Hoover,  of  Plain  township,  is  sent  to 
the  hospital  and  returns  to  the  company  for  duty  April  18  follow- 
ing. With  the  exception  of  this  short  absence  he  serves  his  en- 
tire term  in  the  ranks  and  is  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  war, 
after  thirty-three  months'  service. 

March  8,  1864,  marching  orders  are  issued  and  we  are  on  the  road 
at  an  early  hour  on  the  following  morning,  leaving  a  portion  of  our 
baggage  stored  in  the  city  which  seems  to  indicate  a  forced  march. 
We  are  headed  in  the  direction  of  "Valley  Forge,"  and  arrive  at  this 
land  of  desolation  late  in  the  afternoon  where  we  remain  over  night 
and  retire  to  our  couches  on  the  bare,  frozen  ground  rolled  up  in 
overcoats  and  blankets,  then  pass  to  peaceful  slumber  while  gazing  at 
the  starry  heavens. 

The  bugle  calls  at  the  usual  early  hour  on  March  10.  Then 
orders  are  sent  to  Chef  Schaffer  for  quail  on  toast,  hot  biscuit, 
pancakes,  and  maple  syrup,  ham  and  eggs.  etc.  But  Schaffer  turns 
down  these  orders,  so  we  are  content  with  plain  coffee,  hardtack, 
and  bacon,  then  continue  the  march  until  a  late  hour  and  put  up 
at  another  hotel  run  on  the  army  plan  where  all  secure  quarters  on 
the  first  floor.  At  10  o'clock  on  the  following  morning  we  reach 
Mossy  Creek,  Tenn.,  and  go  into  camp. 


MOSSY  CREEK,  TENNESSEE. 


At  this  camp  Simon  P.  Conrad,  of  Paris  township,  is  detailed 
for  guard  duty  on  the  ammunition  train  where  he  remains  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  after  eighteen  months'  service  with  the  com- 
pany. 

84 


"Rolled  up  in  Overcoats  and  Blankets" 
All  pass  to  slumber  while  viewing  the  Starry  Heavens 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

March  13,  Nicholas  Hurford,  of  Paris  township,  is  also  de- 
tailed for  this  duty,  where  he  remains  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
after  eighteen  months'  service  with  the  company. 

Nick  is  missed  in  the  ranks.  He  has  a  habit  of  taking  the  nega- 
tive side  of  questions  raised  by  the  oracles,  thus  prolonging  these 
arguments.  A  thorn  to  the  flesh  is  Nick,  forever  throwing  ice  water 
on  our  hopes  of  an  early  close  to  the  war,  an  event  we  are  hoping 
and  longing  for  and  often  discuss  in  our  travels.  When  Nick  de- 
veloped into  manhood  he  did  a  poor  job  in  changing  his  voice  and 
seemed  to  lose  control  of  it.  When  under  pressure  of  excitement 
his  voice  leaves  the  grade  and  soars  skyward  and  as  quickly  de- 
scends to  a  deep  bass  when  the  pressure  is  relieved.  Considerable 
discussion  is  carried  on  at  times  over  the  meaning  of  the  terms 
under  which  we  enlisted,  namely:  "Three  years  or  during  the  war, 
unless  sooner  discharged."  As  this  is  interpreted  by  Nick  it  will 
hold  us  in  service  indefinitely.  "Three  years,"  says  Nick,  "settles 
that  part  of  it,  now  don't  it?"  We  can't  deny  this.  "Or  during  the 
war,"  he  says,  "will  hold  us  for  forty  years  if  Uncle  Sam  needs  us." 
"Unless  sooner  discharged,"  continues  Nick,  "means  that  we  can  be 
kept  in  service  until  all  are  killed  or  die  from  old  age."  While  our 
faith  in  Nick's  line  of  argument  is  not  of  the  abiding  kind,  yet  this 
kind  of  talk  is  enjoyed  by  none  except  Ritchey  who  says  he  is  de- 
lighted with  a  prospect  of  a  steady  job  during  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  Nick,  seeing  he  has  the  best  of  the  argument  now  enjoys  a 
hearty  laugh  as  his  voice  flies  off  the  handle  and  mingles  with  the 
clouds.  We  let  Nick  go  without  regrets. 

While  at  this  camp  our  quiet  and  dutiful  Eph.  gives  us  a  sur- 
prise by  severely  upbraiding  a  neglectful  corporal  who  fails  to  re- 
spond to  a  call  to  duty.  Eph.  usually  has  but  little  to  say  and  this  is 
always  directly  to  the  point;  is  slow  to  wrath,  earnest,  dutiful,  and 
matter  of  fact.  He  never  engages  in  our  daily  arguments  and  en- 
dures these  afflictions  without  a  murmur.  But  Eph.  is  a  dangerous 
man  to  "monkey"  with  when  on  guard  duty.  Breachy  soldiers  wish- 
ing to  slip  the  guards  never  bother  him  while  walking  his  "beat." 
With  his  profound  sense  of  duty  he  can't  be  bribed  or  bullied.  Walt, 
his  chum,  takes  a  hand  in  calling  down  the  neglectful  corporal  and 
indorses  every  word  Eph.  says.  Walt  is  provident  and  carries  the 
largest  knapsack  in  the  company  and  seems  to  be  provided  with 
rations  in  times  of  famine,  and  can  fill  and  light  his  pipe  while  on 
forced  march  or  skirmish  line.  But  these  chums  who  pair  off  and 
button  tents  together  do  not  all  dwell  together  in  peace.  They  have 
their  domestic  troubles  and  fear  of  punishment  stands  in  the  way  of 
frequent  scraps.  Awkward  Jack  and  his  chum  fall  out  today  and  but 
for  Raber's  interference  a  scrap  would  have  followed.  While  on 
the  march  and  drill,  Jack  seldom  gets  his  left  foot  down  at  the  tap 
of  the  drum  and  if  there  is  anything  in  camp  that  can  be  upset  or 
spilled  he  is  there  to  do  the  job.  Jack  and  his  chum  are  about  to  sit 
down  to  a  nice  supper  of  nicely  fried  crackers  and  long  strips  of 
bacon,  all  done  to  a  turn,  when  Jack  steps  on  the  frying  pan  handle 

86 


O>(£Y 

He  Politely  Informs  bystanding  Comrades 
that  "Supper  is  Over." 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

and  all  this  fine  supper  is  thrown  out  in  the  dirt.  Jack's  chum  now 
jumps  up  in  a  rage  and  with  a  vigorous  kick  he  sends  the  can  of 
hot  coffee  down  the  hill  and  politely  informs  bystanders  that 
supper  is  over.  Then  they  square  off  for  action  and  Raber  becomes 
peacemaker. 

On  the  morning  of  March  12  our  march  is  continued  to  Morris- 
town,  Tenn.,  where  we  go  into  camp. 


MORRISTOWN,  TENNESSEE. 


During  our  stay  at  this  camp  considerable  scouting  is  done  and 
during  one  of  these  scouts  our  regiment  discovers  what  we  are  look- 
ing for,  but  never  anxious  to  find,  and  very  hastily  prepare  for 
action  by  throwing  up  a  line  of  rifle  pits.  The  enemy  attempts  to 
drive  in  our  skirmishers  but  the  boys  will  not  drive,  hold  their 
position  and  brisk  musketry  is  kept  up  on  our  front  during  the  night. 
On  the  following  morning  our  scouts  report  that  the  enemy  is  at- 
tracting our  attention  at  this  point  while  sending  another  force  to 
get  in  our  rear.  After  our  experience  at  "Valley  Forge"  we  do  not 
care  to  face  a  possibility  of  a  like  or  worse  experience  in  rebel 
prison,  so  a  retreat  is  ordered,  and  for  a  number  of  miles  we  march 
in  line  of  battle  or  with  right  of  company's  to  the  front.  A  few 
weeks  ago  the  One  Hundredth  Ohio  regiment,  while  out  on  a  scout, 
was  caught  in  this  kind  of  a  trap  and  after  putting  up  a  hard  fight 
the  regiment  cut  its  way  out,  yet  lost  about  half  its  number,  killed, 
wounded  and  captured. 

Weather  is  disagreeable  with  a  cold,  raw  wind  blowing  while  we 
make  this  hurried  retreat  ending  at  Mossy  Creek,  Tenn.,  late  in  the 
evening. 


MOSSY  CREEK,  TENNESSEE. 


On  the  following  morning  we  go  in  camp  and  pitch  our  tents, 
clean  up  the  grounds  and  prepare  for  inspection.  In  the  evening  our 
company  is  sent  out  on  the  picket  line,  taking  a  position  about  two 
miles  from  camp  and  cautioned  to  go  quietly  to  our  posts  and  build 
no  fires  on  the  line  or  at  the  picket  reserve.  On  March  22  snow  is 
falling  accompanied  by  a  cold,  stiff  wind.  Having  left  a  portion  of 
our  supplies  at  Knoxville  we  feel  the  need  of  better  protection  fronv 
this  blizzard.  During  the  day  we  are  allowed  to  build  small  fires  for 
cooking  and  take  a  little  chill  from  the  air.  While  off  duty  pickets 
make  beds  by  placing  a  few  flat  rails  in  fence  cracks  and  on  these 
inclined  rails  we  lie  down  with  blanket  or  poncho,  and  a  few  inches 
of  snow  for  covering,  sleep  quite  comfortably  until  time  to  go  on 
duty.  This  is  my  birthday  and  I  inform  Yonie  that  anniversaries  of 
this  important  event  are  usually  ushered  in  with  a  blizzard.  Yonie 

88 


Fireless  Picket  Reserve  in  a  Blizzard 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

sarcastically  replies  that  my  birthday  anniversaries  have  nothing 
whatever  to  do  in  bringing  these  storms.  He  informs  me  that  these 
are  equinoxtial  storms  and  are  caused  by  the  sun  crossing  the  equator 
at  this  time,  all  of  which  he  can  prove  by  the  Lancaster  almanac. 
Yonie  is  anything  but  stingy  when  it  comes  to  imparting  information 
and  is  always  armed  to  prove  his  claims. 

March  20,  1864,  Wesley  Betzenhouser,  of  Lake  township,  a 
recruit,  reports  to  the  company  for  duty.  February  16,  1865,  he 
was  left  on  guard  duty  at  Federal  Point,  N.  C.,  returning  to  the 
company  February  28,  while  encamped  at  Wilmington,  N.  C. 
After  service  in  the  company  of  thirteen  months,  and  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  is  transferred  to  the  One  Hundred  and 
Eighty-Third  Ohio  regiment. 

On  March  23  our  company  is  relieved  from  picket  duty  and  re- 
turns to  camp.  During  our  stay  here  the  custom  of  daily  drills  is 
not  neglected  unless  danger  of  miring  in  the  mud  is  feared.  We  have 
been  drilled  and  drilled  until  it  seems  there  is  nothing  more  to  learn 
in  infantry  drill,  and  if  it  is  exercise  that  is  needed  we  are  surely 
getting  enough  of  this  outside  the  drill  grounds.  We  don't  under- 
stand this  and  no  one  ventures  to  interview  the  commander  on  the 
subject. 

The  weather  is  very  changeable  with  mud  and  rain  prevailing 
accompanied  by  flurries  of  snow,  yet  our  regular  routine  of  duties 
are  observed  regardless  of  weather  conditions.  When  these  duties 
are  performed,  with  the  quartermaster's  consent  we  are  served  with 
the  usual  bill  of  fare  which  is  seldom  changed,  and  the  few  variations 
do  not  pass  through  the  quartermaster's  department.  After  supper 
comes  playing  seven-up,  or  letter-writing  with  bayonet  for  a  candle- 
stick to  afford  a  little  light.  Much  of  the  time  when  not  on  duty 
our  time  is  spent  standing  around  our  campfires  until  tattoo  sounds 
when  all  are  expected  to  roll  up  in  their  blankets,  curl  up  in  their 
tents  and  all  becomes  quiet  throughout  our  camping  grounds. 

On  camp  guard,  March  25,  and  on  being  relieved  from  this  duty 
we  go  with  the  company  on  the  picket  line.  The  weather  has  mod- 
erated leaving  our  camp  a  bed  of  mire  and  slush.  On  March  27  the 
weather  becomes  foul  with  rain  and  wind,  ending  in  a  snow  storm. 
We  are  relieved  from  picket  duty  by  a  company  from  the  Sixty- 
Third  Indiana  regiment  then  return  to  camp  and  receive  four  months' 
pay,  fifty-two  dollars,  of  which  I  send  home  thirty  dollars.  Some- 
time previous  to  this  our  pay  was  increased  two  dollars  a  month. 

On  the  evening  of  March  30  we  receive  marching  orders  and  are 
on  the  road  at  four  o'clock  on  the  following  morning,  tramping 
through  mud  and  water  listening  to  complaints  from  dissatisfied 
soldiers  who  cannot  appreciate  a  good  thing  when  they  have  it,  or 
rather,  when  it  has  them.  Ritchey  says  plenty  of  water  can  now  be 
found  without  Yonie's  peach  sprout.  Yonie  says  the  position  of  the 
moon  has  indicated  a  wet  spring  and  Fritz  replies  that  they  have 
the  same  moon  in  Ohio  and  are  complaining  of  dry  weather.  An 
argument  is  now  under  way  and  enjoyed  by  none  except  Ritchey. 

90 


We  have  acquired  a  habit  of  sleeping  any  old  way. 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

During  the  march  we  are  on  the  rear  guard  so  one  can  easily 
imagine  what  we  are  wading  through  after  the  entire  line  has 
passed  over  the  road.  Many  fall  out  of  the  ranks  today  and  these 
boys  must  be  prodded  along  or  loaded  in  ambulances  or  wagons  if 
unable  to  keep  in  the  ranks  with  their  comrades.  After  a  march  of 
about  fifteen  miles  we  again  camp  near  Morristown,  Tenn.,  late  in 
the  evening. 


MORRISTOWN,  TENNESSEE. 


Too  tired  to  hunt  fuel  for  fires  we  eat  our  crackers  and  raw 
bacon  and  either  lie  down  on  the  wet  ground  or  make  spring  mat- 
tresses of  brush.  Later  during  the  night  fires  are  built  and  boys 
stand  around  and  dry  their  clothing,  while  others  sit  around  and 
sleep.  We  have  acquired  the  habit  of  sleeping  in  almost  any  con- 
venient position.  April  1  our  march  is  continued  to  Bull's  Gap,  Tenn., 
a  distance  of  about  twelve  miles,  where  we  camp  about  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon. 


BULL'S  GAP,  TENN. 


This  march  is  made  on  the  railroad  track  thus  avoiding  mud, 
but  these  track  marches  are  really  greater  punishment  than  plodding 
through  mud,  and  we  feel  that  "All  Fools'  Day"  has  been  fittingly 
observed. 

April  3,  ordered  to  report  at  Headquarters  and  given  transporta- 
tion to  Knoxville  and  instructed  to  forward  a  portion  of  the  supplies 
left  at  that  city  when  we  started  out  on  this  scout. 

April  4,  Daniel  France,  of  Lake  township,  is  detailed  as  black- 
smith with  the  Engineer  Corps  where  he  serves  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  after  twenty  months  on  duty  with  the  company. 

Returning  from  Knoxville  the  company  is  found  guarding  com- 
missary stores  from  where  it  is  relieved  on  the  following  day  by  a 
company  of  the  Sixty-Fifth  Illinois  regiment.  Mud  and  rain  abundant. 
Clear  and  warmer  April  seventh  and  eighth;  then  "smiles  and  tears" 
until  April  eleventh.  On  April  twelfth  storms  are  on  duty  again  when 
the  winds  blow  and  rains  descend  and  beat  upon  our  tabernacles  of 
unbleached  muslin.  No  one  smiles  except  Yonie  whose  reputation 
as  a  weather  prophet  is  established.  On  April  thirteenth  we  move 
about  two  miles  and  camp  above  high  water  mark  and  fix  up  our 
quarters.  This  is  done  none  too  soon  for  storms  continue  with  only 
brief  intermission.  Yonie  is  delighted.  He  has  given  a  knockout 
blow  to  all  who  question  his  knowledge  as  a  weather  bureau.  His 
moon  sign  could  not  have  worked  better  and  his  faith  in  the  infalli- 
bility of  the  Lancaster  almanac  can  never  be  shaken.  It  ranks  the 
Bible  six  days  in  the  week  at  the  old  homestead.  Fritz  is  discom- 

92 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

fited  yet  he  says  any  fool  can  prophesy  rain  in  April  and  never 
miss. 

April  22  I  am  sent  with  a  detachment  to  conduct  a  few  prison- 
ers to  the  railroad  where  they  are  turned  over  to  other  guards  to  be 
taken  to  prison.  On  the  following  morning  reveille  calls  us  out  at 
three  o'clock  when  we  expect  to  return  to  Knoxville,  but  instead,  we 
are  ordered  to  tear  up  the  railroad  track  which  we  proceeded  at  once 
to  do.  Not  only  is  the  track  torn  up  but  we  burn  the  bridges  as 
far  east  as  Greenville,  Tenn.  At  the  close  of  the  first  day's  work 
we  camp  at  a  small  station.  On  the  following  morning  I  am  awak- 
ened by  sound  and  sensations  more  distressing  than  the  reveille  call. 
During  the  night  some  kind  of  an  insect  had  taken  cover  in  one  of 
my  ears,  some  distance  in  the  interior.  While  the  enemy  is  quiet 
but  little  pain  is  felt,  but  whenever  he  makes  hostile  movements  the 
pain  is  distracting.  The  surgeon  is  visited  and  correctly  diagnosed 
the  case.  He  pours  some  kind  of  a  preparation  in  my  ear,  with  the 
assurance  that  the  suffering  will  soon  be  over.  For  a  short  time 
after  the  remedy  is  applied  I  feel  that  perhaps  a  wrong  construction 
has  been  placed  on  the  doctor's  comforting  assurance,  for  both 
victim  and  "varmint"  execute  a  war  dance  until  the  latter  suc- 
cumbs. 

Destruction  of  the  railroad  and  bridges  is  completed  on  April 
twenty-six  when  we  return  to  Bull's  Gap  and  go  into  camp.  Here 
we  meet  the  following  recruits  who  are  assigned  to  our  company: 
Thomas  H.  Bender,  Wm.  T.  Daugherty,  Henry  Packer,  William 
Reifschneider,  all  of  Stark  county.  On  April  27  we  board  the  cars 
in  the  afternoon  and  arrive  at  Knoxville  about  ten  o'clock  that 
night. 

On  this  date  William  Reifschneider,  of  Lake  township,  is 
sent  to  the  hospital  from  where  he  is  furloughed  home.  On  his 
return  to  the  hospital  he  remained  here  on  light  duty  until  June 
15,  1865,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty- 
Third  Ohio  regiment  and  afterward  transferred  to  the  Two 
Hundred  and  Twenty-Fourth  battallion  veteran  reserve  corps. 

Henry  Packer,  of  Lake  township,  enlisted  January  28,  1864, 
and  reported  to  the  company  April  26,  1864.  This  seventeen-year- 
old  boy  served  on  duty  every  day  during  fourteen  months  of  hard 
service  and  until  the  war  closed,  then  transferred  to  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-Third  Ohio  regiment  where  he  remained  on 
guard  duty  until  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service.  Now 
(1919)  one  of  the  few  survivors. 

Early  in  April  about  one  hundred  rebel  deserters  appear  in 
camp  preferring  to  serve  prison  life  to  service  in  the  rebel  army. 
Many  of  these  men  have  been  conscripted  into  rebel  service  against 
their  will  and  are  union  in  sentiment  but  to  save  their  lives  and 
property  they  entered  the  rebel  army. 

We  now  have  orders  to  prepare  for  a  movement  and  informed 
we  will  form  a  junction  with  troops  now  concentrating  at  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.,  to  meet  Confederate  forces  under  General  Johnston 

93 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

now  occupying  northern  Georgia,  for  a  summer's  campaign  in  that 
state. 

The  good  people  of  Knoxville  regret  our  departure  and  a  move- 
ment is  made  by  the  citizens  to  have  the  regiment  remain  on  provost 
duty  in  the  city  but  their  efforts  are  not  successful.  We  are  dis- 
appointed, we  are  loath  to  leave  our  comfortable  log  cabins,  clean 
parade  and  drill  grounds  where  many  citizens  visit  us  daily  to  witness 
our  drills  and  parades  and  enjoy  the  music  of  the  band.  Our  asso- 
ciations with  these  good  people  who  have  suffered  persecution  during 
the  first  eighteen  months  of  the  war  has  been  so  pleasant  that  it 
seems  almost  like  leaving  home  when  we  take  our  departure.  April 
30,  1864,  we  bid  adieu  to  our  many  friends  in  the  city  and  start  out  on 
the  Georgia  campaign. 


CHAPTER   V. 


KNOXVILLE,  TENN.,  TO  CHATTAHOOCHIE  RIVER,  GA. 


This  march  to  meet  other  forces  now  located  in  the  vicinity 
of  Chattanooga  is  kept  up  with  barely  time  for  rest  and  rations 
until  May  3,  when  we  camp  near  Cleveland,  Tennessee,  making 
a  march  of  sixty  miles  in  three  days.  During  this  march  we  pass 
through  Athens,  Louden,  Lenoirs,  and  Charleston,  Tenn.,  fording  the 
Holston  river  in  the  meantime. 

While  encamped  at  Charleston,  Hiram  Walker,  of  Paris  town- 
ship, is  detailed  as  ambulance  driver  and  remains  on  this  de- 
tached duty  until  the  close  of  the  war  when  he  is  discharged,  after 
service  in  the  ranks  of  twenty  months.  One  of  the  13  survivors. 

May  4,  1864,  we  move  in  the  direction  of  Dalton,  Ga.,  making  a 
march  of  twelve  miles.  On  the  following  day  we  continue  on  to 
Redclay,  a  small  station  on  the  Georgia  border.  Before  reaching  this 
station  our  pickets  encounter  the  rebel  outposts  and  considerable 
firing  is  kept  up  on  the  line  while  the  enemy  slowly  fall  back. 
After  advancing  about  ten  miles  we  form  in  line  with  the  others  of 
Sherman's  army  and  begin  operations  with  Atlanta  as  the  objec- 
tive point.  We  now  appear  to  be  on  the  left  wing  of  the  line.  On 
May  6  our  regiment  is  ordered  out  on  the  skirmish  line  where  we 
remain  unmolested  by  the  enemy.  On  May  7  we  return  to  the 
main  line  and  then  move  forward  through  a  wilderness  of  tangled 
underbrush  amid  the  rugged  hills  and  mountains  of  northern  Georgia. 
Here  we  are  stationed  in  Snake  Creek  Gap,  to  hold  this  position. 


SNAKE  CREEK  GAP. 


In  the  meantime  considerable  musketry  and  cannonading  is 
heard  on  our  right.  On  May  10  I  am  sent  with  a  detail  of  ten  men 
to  form  a  part  of  the  skirmish  line  which  is  ordered  to  advance  im- 
mediately on  taking  our  position.  We  find  a  strong  line  of  rebel 
pickets  in  front  who  stubbornly  resist  and  hold  their  position  until 
our  line  is  strengthened  and  the  main  line  advances  to  support.  The 
enemy  now  gives  way  while  both  rebs  and  yanks  keep  mighty  busy 
dodging  from  tree  to  tree  or  other  shelter,  as  we  slowly  push  them 
back  with  both  sides  doing  considerable  shooting  with  only  the 
smoke  from  the  enemy's  gun  as  a  target.  The  Confederates  are 

95 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

pushed    back    about    five    miles    then    enter    their    fortifications    at 
Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Ga, 


ROCKY  FACE  RIDGE,  GEORGIA. 


Night  coming  on  we  are  ordered  to  halt  and  build  light  defenses 
and  men  not  on  duty  have  orders  to  sleep  with  musket  in  hand  and 
be  prepared  for  quick  action  if  called  for.  The  day  has  been  warm 
and  after  this  tiresome  march  over  rocky  hills  and  through  tangled 
underbrush  we  gladly  accept  this  rest  between  reliefs  with  muskets 
as  bedfellows. 

Boys  on  the  skirmish  line  are  meeting  a  new  method  of  warfare 
at  the  base  of  Rocky  Face  Ridge.  Rebels  occupying  the  heights  are 
sending  down  boulders  as  large  as  barrels,  tearing  down  the  mountain 
side,  crashing  through  brush  and  trees,  bounding  from  cliff  to  cliff  in 
their  descent.  Our  skirmishers  are  keeping  out  of  range  of  this  bom- 
bardment, some  taking  shelter  under  projecting  cliffs  near  the  moun- 
tain base,  remaining  here  for  a  time  as  volleys  of  this  new  ammuni- 
tion pass  over  their  heads. 

On  the  following  morning  we  are  relieved  from  picket  and  return 
to  the  regiment.  Before  noon  our  pickets  are  attacked  by  the  enemy 
who  sally  forth  from  their  works  and  a  rapid  firing  is  kept  up  for  a 
short  time.  In  the  meantime  we  advance  to  support  the  skirmish 
line  and  throw  up  a  light  line  of  defenses  when  the  enemy  falls  back 
to  fortifications.  On  May  eleven  we  again  move  and  after  marching 
about  ten  miles  toward  the  right  of  our  line  we  bivouac  for  the 
night,  continuing  the  march  on  May  12,  while  considerable  firing 
is  heard  on  our  left. 

During  these  operations  we  hear  that  our  old  friend  Judah, 
commanding  the  Second  division,  from  whom  we  so  gladly  separated 
ourselves  in  Kentucky,  is  arrested  for  disobedience  of  orders,  by 
order  of  General  Schofield.  It  is  reported  that  at  the  end  of  a 
courtmartial  Judah  is  dismissed  from  service.  The  boys  all  express 
a  warm  and  kindly  feeling  toward  Schofield. 

On  May  13  we  again  move  forward  and  after  a  march  of  about 
fifteen  miles  we  form  in  line  of  battle  fronting  the  enemy's  works  at 
Resaca,  Ga. 


RES  AC  A,  GEORGIA. 


Here  the  enemy  occupy  a  strong  line  of  works,  also  a  line  of  rifle 
pits  at  the  base  of  the  hill  in  their  front.  On  May  fourteen,  we  form 
in  line  of  battle  with  fixed  bayonets  and  march  forward  to  a  position 
facing  the  enemy  where  he  awaits  us  in  plain  view  of  our  move- 
ments while  we  are  at  the  timber's  edge  facing  an  open  field  clear 
of  obstruction  except  a  rail  fence  where  we  are  forming  our  lines. 

96 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

The  bugle  now  sounds  the  charge  when  we  sweep  aside  the  rail  fence 
and  go  forward  with  lusty  yells  amid  the  whistling  of  balls  and  roar 
of  artillery.  Crossing  the  open  field  the  enemy  gives  way  abandon- 
ing the  rifle  pits  where  we  take  refuge  and  send  in  a  few  rounds  of 
ammunition  as  the  rebs  scamper  over  the  hill  to  their  second  line  of 
defenses.  We  are  soon  ordered  forward  to  attack  the  second  line 
located  over  the  crest  of  the  hill  and  while  advancing  to  this  line 
of  the  enemy  position  we  are  out  of  range  of  his  fire  until  we  have 
almost  reached  the  summit  of  the  hill  and  on  reaching  this  exposed 
position  orders  are  given  to  lie  down  and  engage  the  enemy  as 
opportunity  offers.  We  remain  in  this  position  until  dark  and  are 
then  relieved  by  other  troops  and  retire  to  the  rear  for  rations  and 
ammunition.  On  the  following  morning  it  is  found  that  the  enemy 
has  changed  position  and  before  evening  is  in  full  retreat  from 
defenses  fronting  Resaca,  having  been  forced  to  make  this  move 
by  flank  movement  of  our  troops  threatening  the  rear.  During  our 
assault  on  their  works  the  rebels  give  a  wonderful  exhibition  of 
bad  marksmanship  for  nearly  all  their  musketry  and  artillery  is 
aimed  at  a  safe  distance  overhead.  The  loss  in  our  brigade  is  about 
three  hundred  killed,  wounded  and  captured,  but  only  eleven  in  our 
regiment.  David  B.  Newhouse  is  the  only  sufferer  in  our  company, 
receiving  a  slight  scalp  wound.  Colonel  Reilly  leads  the  charge 
mounted  on  a  plug  horse  and  dressed  in  the  uniform  of  a  private 
soldier.  The  colonel  does  not  want  to  lose  a  good  horse  or  draw 
any  more  than  his  share  of  the  enemy's  fire,  but  he  loses  his  cap 
and  with  his  hair  and  galways  standing  out  like  porcupine  quills 
he  reaches  the  enemy  line  with  his  command.  The  plug  horse 
unable  to  leap  the  works  lands  with  his  front  feet  in  the  ditch  and 
balks  leaving  the  colonel  in  a  very  uncomfortable  position.  He  dis- 
mounts and  finishes  the  advance  on  foot  for  he  could  not  coax  or 
swear  the  animal  out  of  the  ditch.  Boys  think  it  was  the  sight  of  the 
charging  Reilly  that  frightened  the  enemy  out  of  their  works. 

Had  we  known  that  this  assault  on  the  enemy  line  was  to  be  but 
little  more  dangerous  than  a  foot  race  we  would  have  felt  less  timid 
while  preparing  to  make  the  charge. 

Owing  to  the  enemy's  bad  marksmanship  our  regiment  escapes 
with  this  small  loss,  while  other  regiments  in  our  brigade  meet  with 
stronger  resistance  or  are  perhaps  occupying  more  exposed  posi- 
tions. 

Lining  up  for  an  assault  on  the  enemy  is  not  a  pleasing  experi- 
ence in  army  life.  It  is  difficult  to  give  expression  to  one's  feel- 
ings at  such  a  time.  Pride  and  a  personal  sense  of  duty  and  honor 
sustains  as  the  bugle  sounds  the  charge  and  all  go  forward  with 
lusty  yells,  the  screaming  of  shot  and  shell  seeming  to  infuse  one 
with  a  strong  desire  to  reach  the  harmless  end  of  fire  arms  that 
are  dealing  out  death  in  the  ranks.  Our  movements  seem  that  of  a 
connected  body  with  one  purpose  in  view  and  one  feels  that  greater 
safety  is  found  in  unity  of  action.  It  is  said  a  soldier  rarely  runs 

97 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

away  because  of  individual  cowardice,  the  cowardice  being  that  of 
a  connected  body.  Men  have  been  heard  to  express  a  desire  to  en- 
gage in  this  kind  of  bayonet  exercise  and  sometimes  found  silent,  if 
not  absent  when  this  opportunity  is  found.  But  crossing  of  the 
bayonet  in  battle  does  not  occur  often  for  it  is  usually  expected  that 
if  the  other  fellow  wont  run,  we  will.  History  gives  the  loss  of 
both  armies  during  this  engagement  as  nine  hundred  killed  and 
thirty-six  hundred  wounded  and  missing. 

We  now  get  full  details  of  this  engagement  from  the  oracles 
who  seem  to  have  been  able  to  see  what  has  been  going  on  over  this 
long  line  of  battle  extending  many  miles  and  in  a  wild  mountainous 
country.  But  they  can't  agree  and  the  case  is  never  settled. 

Among  the  prisoners  captured  Colonel  Reilly  finds  an  Irishman, 
not  many  years  from  the  old  sod,  who  has  been  serving  in  the  rebel 
ranks.  But  it  would  never  do  to  print  what  the  colonel  said  to  this 
prisoner,  nor  can  one  describe  the  manner  in  which  it  was  said. 
The  colonel  fairly  foamed  at  the  mouth  in  his  denunciation  of  his 
countryman  who  had  taken  up  arms  against  his  adopted  country. 
Before  the  frightened  prisoner  could  open  his  mouth  in  reply,  the 
toe  of  Reilly's  boot  found  its  mark  as  the  colonel  departed. 

Here  Mother  Bickerdyke  appears  upon  the  scene  with  her 
ambulance  loaded  with  supplies  for  the  wounded.  Mrs.  Livermore, 
in  her  book,  "My  Story  of  the  War,"  says :  "I  despair  of  giving  any 
account  of  the  work  accomplished  by  Mrs.  Bickerdyke  and  Mrs. 
Porter  from  April  to  November,  1864.  What  it  is  to  follow  Sher- 
man's army  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  when  it  fought  every  foot  of 
the  way  over  rugged  mountains,  through  deep  ravines,  through 
thick  primitive  woods,  crossing  headlong  rivers — to  follow  with  only 
the  one  aim  of  ministering  to  the  exhausted,  the  suffering,  the 
wounded,  the  dying,  with  only  blanket  and  a  pillow  for  a  bed,  the 
roar  of  artillery,  the  clash  of  arms,  the  cries  of  distress,  and  the 
shouts  of  battle  continually  resounding,  to  live  night  and  day  in 
the  midst  of  these  horrors,  in  constant  attendance  upon  the  mangled 
and  anguished  soldiers  brought  to  them  from  the  front,  or  taken 
to  extemporized  hospitals — this  cannot  be  described. 

"As  they  were  pushing  along  in  their  ambulance  they  hear  the 
distant  sound  of  fierce  cannonading  and  knew  that  a  battle  was  on 
ahead  of  them.  Now,  this  is  mingled  with  the  crash  of  musketry, 
the  call  of  half  a  hundred  bugles,  the  thundered  command  of  of- 
ficers leading  their  men  to  the  conflict,  the  yells  of  infuriated  sol- 
diers as  they  hurl  themselves  on  their  antagonists  with  the  shock  of 
an  avalanche — and  sometimes  overtopping  all,  the  awful  cries  of 
mortal  agony  that  came  up  from  the  battlefield  from  men 
writhing  in  every  form  of  ghastly  wounds.  They  were  in  the  rear 
of  the  battle  of  Resaca.  On  one  side  are  heaped  the  knapsacks  of 
which  the  men  have  stripped  themselves  for  the  fight — on  the  other 
the  amputating  tents  of  surgeons  surrounded  by  the  ever-increasing 
quantity  of  mangled  and  dissevered  limbs.  The  field  hospital  is  in 

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Footprints  Through  Dixie 

readiness  for  the  wounded,  who  lay  about  under  trees  and  on  the 
grass  waiting  their  turn  at  the  amputating  tables  or  to  have  their 
wounds  dressed.  In  a  short  time  both  women  are  at  work.  Their 
portable  kettles  with  furnaces  attached  are  set  up,  their  concentrated 
extract  of  beef  is  uncanned,  and  soon  the  fainting  and  famishing 
men  are  uttering  their  thanks  for  the  great  refreshments  and  pal- 
atable soup.  They  also  dress  wounds,  take  down  memoranda  of 
last  messages  to  be  sent  to  friends,  receive  and  label  dying  gifts 
to  be  distributed  to  loved  ones  at  home,  encourage  the  desponding, 
and  speed  the  parting  soul  to  heaven  with  a  brief  verse  of  hymn,  a 
quotation  from  the  word  of  Christ  or  fervent  and  tender  prayer. 
Never  were  the  services  of  women  more  needed,  never  were  sol- 
diers more  grateful  for  their  motherly  ministrations.  The  Atlanta 
campaign  was  made  a  success,  not  alone  by  the  consummate  skill  of 
its  great  commander,  but  by  downright,  unflinching,  courageous, 
hard  fighting  such  as  the  world  has  never  surpassed  in  the  annals 
of  history." 

We  are  now  a  part  of  the  Twenty-Third  army  corps,  Army  of 
Ohio,  under  command  of  General  Schofield,  and  General  Jacob  D. 
Cox  commanding  the  Third  division  to  which  we  belong.  Our 
brigade  (First)  under  command  of  Colonel  Reilly  embraces  the 
Eighth  Tennessee,  Twelfth  and  Sixteenth  Kentucky,  One  Hundred 
and  Twelfth  Illinois,  One  Hundredth  and  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Ohio  regiments  of  infantry  and  battery  "D"  Tenth  Ohio  Light  Ar- 
tillery. The  Second  Brigade  under  command  of  General  Hascall, 
consists  of  the  Sixty-Third  Indiana,  Sixty-Fifth  Illinois,  One  Hund- 
red and  Third  Ohio,  Eleventh  Kentucky,  and  Fourth  Tennessee  reg- 
iments of  infantry  and  one  battery.  The  Third  brigade  consists  of 
the  Second  Michigan,  First,  Second,  Eleventh  and  Thirteenth  Tenn- 
essee and  First  Alabama  regiments,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Byrd  of  the  First  Tennessee.  General  Burdridge  commanding  the 
Fourth  division  of  our  corps  is  left  in  Kentucky,  and  General  Tilson 
is  left  in  Tennessee  with  Second  division. 

On  this  campaign  we  have  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  under 
General  Thomas  with  a  force  of  60,000  men.  The  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  under  command  of  General  McPherson  with  a  force  of 
24,000  men,  and  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  under  General  Schofield  with 
13,000  men,  and  about  250  cannon  making  a  total  force  of  97,000  men 
including  cavalry,  with  General  Sherman  in  command  of  the  entire 
force  now  headed  in  the  direction  of  Atlanta,  Ga. 

May  16  the  enemy  having  retreated  toward  the  interior  of  Dixie, 
we  move  forward  fording  the  Coosawattie  river,  then  march  a  dis- 
tance of  about  ten  miles  and  bivouac  for  the  night.  On  May  17,  an 
early  start  is  made  and  we  are  soon  within  hearing  of  musketry, 
and  after  a  march  of  fifteen  miles  is  made  we  camp  for  the  night. 
At  the  end  of  this  march  the  quartermaster  issues  half  rations  on 
which,  it  seems,  we  are  expected  to  perform  double  duty.  On  May 
19  we  are  hustled  out  early  with  orders  to  place  our  arms  and 

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equipment  in  good  working  order.  We  engage  in  this  work  until 
about  four  o'clock  a.  m.  when  our  forward  movement  is  continued 
until  we  reach  a  point  near  Cassville,  Ga.,  where  we  camp  in  line  of 
battle. 


CASSVILLE,  GEORGIA. 


On  May  20  another  early  start  is  made  with  strong  indica- 
tions of  trouble  ahead,  marching  with  right  of  company's  to  the 
front.  During  the  early  hours  of  the  day  we  find  the  enemy's  skir- 
mish line  which  falls  back  without  much  effort  to  hold  its  position 
until  Cartersville,  Ga.,  is  reached. 


CARTERSVILLE,  GEORGIA. 


Here  we  remain  over  night  and  learn  that  the  rebels  are  pre- 
pared to  make  a  stand  in  defense  of  the  village  where  a  quantity  of 
cotton  and  army  supplis  is  stored,  also  the  location  of  a  large  factory 
where  munitions  of  war  is  made  for  the  rebel  army.  On  the  follow- 
ing morning  our  skirmish  line  is  strengthened  and  the  army  moves 
forward  in  line  of  battle  slowly  forcing  the  enemy  back  through  the 
village  and  across  the  Etewah  river.  On  entering  the  village, 
cotton  and  other  supplies  are  found  burning  but  the  enemy  is  so 
closely  pressed  that  a  pontoon  bridge  on  the  river  is  abandoned. 
Here  a  number  of  prisoners  are  taken  and  later  in  the  day  we  set 
fire  to  the  factory  and  witness  a  display  of  fire  works  from  ex- 
ploding shells  and  other  ammunition.  Many  of  the  citizens  have 
deserted  their  homes  and  fled  with  their  retreating  friends  first 
firing  the  railroad  bridge  and  a  number  of  cars,  which  are  burning 
as  we  enter  the  village.  Here  we  halt  and  stack  arms  for  a  short 
rest.  While  waiting  orders  we  visit  a  number  of  these  deserted 
homes  where  breakfast  had  just  been  served  or  was  in  course  of 
preparation.  Our  experience  in  the  culinary  art  now  comes  in  play 
and  many  delicacies  we  find  in  these  homes  are  added  to  the  bill 
of  fare.  We  enjoy  a  sumptuous  breakfast  at  the  expense  of  the 
Confederate  States  of  America,  then  fill  our  haversacks  and  depart 
without  washing  the  dishes  or  doing  up  the  morning  work.  A  few 
days  ago  the  rebel  General  Joe  Wheeler  captured  our  division  sup- 
ply train  which  reduced  us  to  one-half  rations,  so  a  square  meal  or 
two  is  now  greatly  appreciated.  We  are  always  ready  for  anything 
in  the  ration  line  and  when  found,  time  is  never  wasted  in  waiting 
for  an  invitation  to  partake.  A  member  of  the  company  badly  in 
need  of  a  shirt  is  unable  to  find  anything  in  the  line  of  men's  wear- 
ing apparel,  all  this  probably  having  been  given  to  supply  rebel 
soldiers.  The  nearest  he  could  find  to  the  article  wanted  is  a  nicely 
embroidered  garment,  low  in  the  neck  and  sleeveless.  This  "jimmy," 

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Footprints  Through  Dixie 

as  he  calls  it  in  his  lame  English  is  about  the  same  as  "nottings 
at  all,"  yet  he  wears  it  until  a  better  one  is  found  and  then  uses 
the  garment  for  gunwipers. 

We  go  into  camp  here  and  stake  down  our  tents.  In  the  even- 
ing our  company  is  detailed  for  picket  duty  and  form  our  lines  south 
of  the  city  along  the  north  bank  of  the  river.  With  my  squad  we 
take  a  position  near  the  river  bank  at  the  burning  railroad  bridge. 
Soon  after  dark  we  hear  voices  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river 
and  do  a  little  scouting  along  the  water's  edge  where  we  find 
rebels  are  placing  picket  posts  along  the  south  bank  of  the  stream. 
Securing  a  safe  position  in  an  abandoned  turn  table  pit  we  cap  our 
muskets  and  await  developments.  All  is  quiet  along  the  line  save 
the  low  tones  of  command  given  by  an  officer  placing  his  pickets. 
We  wait  and  listen  for  some  time  until  the  Johnnies  probably  con- 
clude the  "Yanks  are  not  thar"  and  grow  bold  enough  to  start  a 
small  fire  near  the  water's  edge.  We  see  them  walking  about  their 
fire  then  send  in  six  shots  that  brings  a  howl  from  some  luckless 
reb.  and  their  fire  brands  are  quickly  kicked  into  the  water.  This 
volley  draws  the  enemy's  fire  on  us  for  a  short  time  then  all  be- 
comes quiet  the  remainder  of  the  night.  No  more  fire  are  built,  the 
rebs.  probably  contenting  themselves  with  a  cold  lunch.  On  the 
following  morning  we  are  relieved,  the  enemy  having  disappeared 
during  the  night,  their  forces  retreating  from  the  line. 

May  22,  1864,  William  T.  Daugherty,  a  recruit  of  Lake  town- 
ship, is  sent  to  the  hospital  returning  for  duty  at  Rome,  Ga., 
October  20,  following.  He  is  again  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Wil- 
mington, N.  C.,  March  6,  1865,  and  on  recovery  is  detailed  as  clerk 
where  he  remains  until  the  close  of  the  war,  having  served  on 
duty  with  the  company  six  months. 

May  25,  1864,  we  cross  Etewah  river  on  pontoon  and  march  about 
fifteen  miles  toward  the  right  of  our  lines.  At  night  we  halt  ex- 
pecting to  pitch  our  tents,  but  after  supper  and  a  short  rest  we  are 
given  orders  to  move  forward  spending  the  entire  night  either  march- 
ing or  standing  in  battle  line  ready  for  action.  During  a  portion 
of  this  night's  experience  we  are  standing  or  marching  in  a  down- 
pouring  rain,  thoroughly  soaked  and  well  besmeared  with  Georgia 
mud.  In  the  early  morning  we  prepare  breakfast  and  continue  the 
march  until  our  forces  are  near  the  enemy  lines  at  Dallas,  Ga., 
where  we  are  allowed  but  little  rest  for  orders  are  given  to  ex- 
change muskets  for  shovels  and  axes  and  these  are  kept  busy  until  a 
line  of  fortifications  is  built. 


DALLAS,  GEORGIA. 


Yonie  now  informs  us  that  we  had  sixteen  days  of  rain  since 
the  first  of  May  and  will  have  more  before  the  close  of  the  month, 
"just  as  he  told  us  when  he  got  his  eye  on  the  new  moon."  Fritz  says 
Yonie's  predictions  are  all  moonshine  but  agrees  that  Yonie  has 

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Footprints  Through  Dixie 

guessed  right  this  time.  The  argument  is  continued  as  usual  and  these 
come  with  greater  regularity  and  more  abundantly  than  rations. 
With  Yonie's  moon  signs  and  Ritchey's  bunions  as  weather  prog- 
nosticators  we  always  know  when  to  look  for  some  kind  of  weather, 
and  are  never  disappointed. 

Here  we  .established  our  lines  within  easy  range  of  the  enemy's 
artillery  fire  these  seeming  to  be  located  on  the  extreme  right  of 
our  lines  for  we  hear  heavy  firing  at  a  considerable  distance  on  our 
left.  Firing  on  the  picket  line  is  constant  during  the  day  and  we 
keep  close  within  shelter  of  our  works.  Sharpshooters  on  both  sides 
are  on  the  lookout  for  victims  and  a  number  who  expose  themselves 
are  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the  killed  is  Captain  Horton  who  is 
shot  through  the  head  as  he  passes  along  the  line  near  our  company 
quarters,  on  May  28.  So  near  are  we  to  the  enemy  position  that 
pickets  cannot  be  placed  during  the  day,  and  reliefs  are  sent  out 
after  dark.  On  the  evening  of  this  date  company  "B"  is  ordered  on 
the  skirmish  line.  We  are  on  the  line  but  a  short  time  when  a  great 
disturbance  is  kicked  up  in  our  front  until  it  seems  that  the  entire 
rebel  force  has  turned  out  as  bell  ringers.  When  this  racket  nears 
our  position  we  fire  a  volley  in  the  direction  of  this  noise  then  fall 
back  on  the  reserve.  We  are  now  reinforced  by  an  additional  detail 
and  ordered  forward  in  the  direction  of  this  uproar.  With  a  volley 
of  musketry  and  lusty  yells  we  advance  some  distance  and  make  the 
discovery  that  bells  have  been  placed  on  a  heard  of  cattle  driven 
before  the  enemy  for  the  purpose  of  stampeding  our  force.  On  the 
approach  of  day  the  enemy  appears  in  force  and  drive  us  back  to  our 
fortifications  where  we  hold  them  throughout  the  day. 

While  on  this  skirmish  line  William  W.  Smith,  of  Plain  town- 
ship, receives  a  severe  wound  in  his  arm  and  is  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital, returning  for  duty  September  30,  following.  November  30, 
at  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Smith  is  captured  and  sent  to  Ander- 
sonville  prison,  where  he  remains  until  the  close  of  the  war  and 
is  discharged  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  May  29,  1865.  He  served  his 
entire  term  of  enlistment  with  the  company,  except  while  a  pris- 
oner of  war  and  in  the  hospital  recovering  from  his  wound. 

June  3  we  are  relieved  from  duty  in  the  fortifications  and  fall 
back  in  the  rear  a  short  distance  and  for  the  first  time  since  occupy- 
ing these  works  we  enjoy  a  rest,  are  supplied  with  rations  and  am- 
munition and  receive  our  mail. 

June  6  Corporal  John  Spangler,  of  Plain  township,  is  ap- 
pointed sergeant.  With  the  exception  of  thirty  days'  leave  of 
absence  he  served  his  entire  term  of  enlistment  on  duty  with  the 
company  and  is  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

May  31  Joseph  Stuart,  of  Salem,  is  detailed  as  teamster,  re- 
maining on  this  detached  service  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
having  served  on  duty  with  the  command  twenty  months. 

June  6  George  Nelson,  a  recruit  of  Plain  township,  is  detailed 
as  teamster  with  the  Twenty-Third  Corps  ammunition  train, 
where  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  then  transferred  to 
the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-Third  Ohio  regiment,  after  two 
months'  service  with  the  company. 

On  the  morning  of  June  4  we  are  on  the  march  toward  the  left 

102 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

of  the  line  and  when  nearing  the  position  assigned  we  encounter  the 
rebel  skirmish  line,  driving  it  back  to  the  enemy's  main  line  of 
works,  when  we  stack  arms  and  get  busy  with  axe  and  shovel  until 
a  line  of  defense  is  completed.  During  this  movement  and  work 
we  are  deluged  with  rain  and  a  constant  shelling  from  the  enemy 
batteries.  Our  part  of  the  line  is  now  located  near  Ackworth 
Station,  Ga. 


ACKWORTH  STATION,  GEORGIA. 


June  5  our  brigade  is  sent  out  a  distance  of  about  five  miles  on 
a  reconoissance.  Not  finding  the  enemy  we  return  early  in  the 
evening  and  occupy  our  quarters.  Rains  continue  and  the  weather 
is  blistering  hot.  On  June  6  we  are  strengthening  our  works  and  in 
the  evening  our  company  is  sent  out  on  the  picket  line.  On  June  7 
marching  orders  are  given  when  we  return  to  the  line,  but  later  this 
order  is  countermanded  and  we  remain  in  our  works.  Our  rations 
are  exhausted  and  considerable  growling  is  heard.  It  is  not  possi- 
ble at  times  to  reach  our  positions  with  the  supply  train,  and  some- 
times rebel  cavalry  make  a  raid  in  the  rear  of  the  army  and  capture 
our  supplies  These  explanations  might  be  satisfactory  to  boys  who 
are  not  worn  out  with  hunger  and  hard  usage.  But  we  "cuss"  the 
quartermaster  just  the  same  and  are  not  in  a  mood  to  consider  the 
whys  and  wherefores  Ritchey  appeals  to  Yonie  to  try  his  peach 
sprout  and  see  if  he  can  locate  something  in  the  eatable  line.  Re- 
lief comes  on  June  9  when  rations  are  supplied  then  we  mentally 
apologize  for  what  we  have  been  saying  about  the  quartermaster. 
With  our  regiment  on  the  skirmish  line  we  advance  toward  the 
enemy  driving  his  skirmish  line  under  their  fire  and  shelling,  while 
dodging  from  tree  to  tree  as  the  line  advances.  These  movements 
with  the  showers  coming  down  rapidly  at  times  add  to  our  discom- 
fort and  danger  as  the  skirmishers  advance  through  the  forest  and 
fields.  The  scalding  hot  sun  between  showers  and  the  low  hanging 
smoke  with  scarcely  a  breath  of  air  stirring,  is  suffocating.  The 
enemy  is  stubborn  and  resists  advance.  We  are  urged  forward  by 
the  main  line  closely  supporting  as  we  continue  to  dodge  from  tree 
to  tree  or  other  shelter  and  fire  as  rapidly  as  we  can  load  and  get  a 
glimpse  of  "Johnnies"  or  see  the  smoke  from  their  muskets,  they, 
like  ourselves,  being  kept  busy  finding  protection  as  they  slowly 
give  way.  Exploding  shells,  musket  balls  and  solid  shot  are  trim- 
ming trees,  throwing  bark,  splinters,  and  limbs  in  many  directions. 
Frequently  we  see  a  boy  in  blue  throw  up  his  hands  and  fall  as  he 
hastens  from  cover  to  cover.  Boys  in  blue  and  in  gray  are  seen 
lying  dead  or  wounded  as  we  slowly  press  the  enemy  back  amid 
the  stifling  heat  and  smoke  while  agonizing  cries  from  wounded 
and  dying  are  heard  as  we  advance.  A  dead  rebel  sharpshooters,  who 

103 


"Advancing  Skirmish  Line" 
Dodging  from  cover  as  the  Enemy  Slowly  give  way. 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

had  lashed  himself  well  up  in  the  top  of  a  bushy  tree  top,  is  seen 
suspended  as  we  pass  by. 

During  this  day's  advance  Uriah  Dennis  of  Paris  township, 
is  severely  wounded  and  is  sent  to  the  hospital  where  he  died 
soon  afterward. 

On  June  11  we  are  relieved  from  the  skirmish  line  and  fall  back 
on  the  main  line  where  preparations  are  again  made  to  continue  the 
forward  movement.  Our  skirmishers  now  advance  and  open  fire 
driving  the  enemy  slowly  back.  In  the  meantime  he  makes  frequent 
threats  to  assault  our  lines  and  to  meet  these  threatened  assaults  we 
build  five  lines  of  works  during  the  day.  This  movement  seems  to 
be  made  to  break  the  enemy  line  between  Kenesaw  and  Pine  moun- 
tains. Near  the  foot  of  Pine  mountain  we  find  the  enemy  line  in  a 
strong  position  beyond  a  large  open  field.  He  also  occupies  an 
advance  line  with  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  behind  trees,  log- 
heaps,  railpiles  and  in  an  old  log  building.  Our  company  is  sent 
forward  to  reinforce  the  skirmish  line  and  we  pump  in  cold  lead 
receiving  plenty  of  the  same  in  return  but  the  rebs  stay  right  "thar" 
and  hold  their  position.  We  make  a  rush  for  the  rail  fence  sur- 
rounding the  field  and  send  in  more  lead,  yet  they  hold  their  ground. 
This  field  fronting  us  is  a  mass  of  blackberry  bushes  with  berries 
now  ripening  and  while  waiting  orders  a  number  of  boys  take 
chances  by  crawling  through  or  over  the  fence  and  feast  on  berries. 
In  the  meantime  two  pieces  of  artillery  unlimber  their  guns  imme- 
diately in  our  rear  and  send  shells  that  scatter  log  heaps  and  other 
cover  used  by  the  enemy,  as  well  as  an  outpouring  of  Johnnies  who 
are  not  slow  in  hunting  for  safer  cover  while  we  go  forward  with 
yells  and  soon  have  possession  of  the  enemy  picket  line.  As  we 
charge  through  the  blackberry  bushes  our  battery  boys  send  shells 
over  our  heads  at  the  enemy,  one  of  which  is  seen  to  enter  the  gable 
of  the  old  log  barn  and  seems  to  have  exploded  at  about  the  right 
time  and  place  for  there  is  not  enough  openings  in  the  old  building 
to  let  out  the  panic  stricken  rebs.  as  they  trample  each  other  under 
foot  in  their  mad  haste  to  find  safer  quarters.  On  taking  possession 
of  this  advanced  line  we  find  a  number  of  dead  and  wounded  have 
been  left  where  they  fell. 

After  taking  this  position  beyond  the  blackberry  field  our  regi- 
ment is  ordered  to  another  part  of  the  line  to  support  a  battery  sent 
to  silence  a  rebel  battery  now  making  trouble  on  our  left.  As 
soon  as  a  favorable  position  is  secured  our  battery  boys  unlimber 
their  guns  and  begin  firing,  our  regiment  taking  a  position  a  short 
distance  in  the  rear  where  we  lie  as  closely  to  the  ground  as  pos- 
sible with  a  strong  inclination  to  burrow  down  into  the  bowels  of 
the  hill.  Soon  another  battery  arrives  and  lines  up  with  the  cannon 
engaged,  then  begins  one  of  the  most  deafening  artillery  duels  we 
have  heard  at  close  range  during  the  campaign.  As  soon  -as  a  gun 
is  fired  the  battery  boys  are  seen  to  drop  to  the  ground  remaining 
there  until  the  enemy  has  fired  when  they  are  up  again  in  an  instant 
and  repeat  these  movements.  The  duel  lasts  a  half  hour  or  more 

105 


footprints  Through  Dixfe 

when  the  enemy  is  seen  to  limber  up  his  guns  and  we  are  ordered  for- 
ward on  double  quick  but  the  rebs.  get  away  with  all  guns  except 
one  which  is  found  disabled  when  we  reach  the  abandoned  position?. 
We  find  a  number  of  dead  and  wourrded,  one  with  his  head  missing: 
and  brains  and  pieces  of  skull  scattered  on  the  ground  and  bushes. 
During  the  time  of  this  duel  a  number  of  our  battery  boys  are  killed 
and  wounded,  but  we  are  protected  somewhat  behind  the  hill  and 
escape  serious  injury.  Jackman  tries  to  commit  suicide,  or  with 
more  curiosity  than  caution,  sits  up  where  he  can  better  watch  the 
artillery  in  action  and  with  hearty  laughter  enjoys  seeing  boys, 
squirm  and  hug  the  soil  when  cannon  balls  or  fragments  of  shells 
plow  up  the  earth  half  covering  some  of  the  boys  with  dirt. 

During  today's  operations  the  rebel  general  Bishop  Polk  is 
killed  while  riding  along  the  side  of  Phte  mountain.  The  events 
noted  above  cover  the  time  from  June  11  to  June  18  and  we  are 
now  in  a  position  near  Pine  Knob  threatening  the  enemy  left  and 
find  his  works  fronting  us  abandoned.  During  this  time  the  enemy 
is  so  closely  pressed  that  he  continues  to  leave  many  of  his  dead 
an<?  wounded  where  they  fall.  We  follow  the  retreating  enemy 
about  two  miles  in  a  southerly  direction  then  stack  arms  and  hur- 
riedly build  a  line  of  defenses. 

On  June  18  we  remain  in  our  works  amid  showers  of  water 
from  the  clouds  and  frequent  shot  and  shell  from  the  enemy.  Mean- 
time details  of  men  are  seen  gathering  and  burying  the  dead  of  both 
armies.  On  June  19  we  move  forward  about  five  miles  without  fiind- 
ing  any  opposition  except  an  abundance  of  mud  and  water,  and  camp 
near  the  Marietta  road.  On  the  afternoon  of  June  20,  while  rains 
continue,  we  move  to  the  right  a  few  miles,  where  we  find  and 
occupy  a  line  of  the  enemy's  abandoned  works.  On  June  twenty-two 
we  move  forward  driving  the  enemy's  skirmish  line  several  miles  to 
a  large  plantation  where  we  stack  arms  and  build  fortifications  while 
between  showers  the  weather  is  extremely  hot.  How  we  are  able 
to  stand  up  under  this  heat  and  hard  usage  is  surprising  yet  the 
limit  is  reached  by  boys  who  frequently  fall  out  of  ranks  through 
exhaustion.  Excused  from  duty  for  a  few  days  they  are  back  on  the 
line  again.  On  June  twenty-six  we  again  advance  with  our  company 
on  the  skirmish  line  and  are  pleased  to  find  the  enemy  falling  back 
without  showing  much  resistence.  On  June  twenty-seven  we  are 
relieved  from  the  skirmish  line  when  our  main  force  leave  the  works 
in  battle  line  and  after  advancing  a  few  miles  the  enemy  is  found 
who  stubbornly  resist  and  hold  us  in  check  for  several  hours,  then 
finally  give  way  closely  followed  by  our  forces  pressing  him  across 
Nickajack  creek.  Here  we  stack  arms  and  go  to  work  with  ax  and 
shovel  until  a  line  of  rifle  pits  is  built.  We  now  seem  to  be  near 
the  right  of  our  line  pushing  the  enemy  left,  while  our  forces  are 
heard  pounding  the  rebel  center  at  or  near  Kenesaw  mountain. 


106 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 
KENESAW  MOUNTAIN. 


During  the  day  furions  fighting  with  heavy  cannonading  is  heard 
on  our  left,  and  at  night  we  witness  a  grand  display  of  fireworks 
at  the  summit  of  the  mountain  which  at  times  is  ablaze.  On  June 
28  the  enemy  attack  our  pickets,  forcing  them  back  from  their  posi- 
tion while  we  on  the  liae  are  busily  engaged  untii  late  at  night 
strengthening  our  position.  In  the  meantime  plaintive  voices  of  com- 
rades down  the  line  are  heard  singing — "Many  are  the  Hearts  that  are 
Weary  Tonight." 

This  movement  of  the  enemy  was  probably  made  for  the  purpose 
of  finding  our  position  and  strength  for  he  falls  back  and  occupies 
his  works.  Heavy  firing  is  again  heard  on  our  left  apparently  in 
the  vicinity  of  Kenesaw  mountain.  July  2,  it  now  appears  that  the 
«nemy  has  decided  to  abandon  the  line  and  the  strong  positions 
held  at  the  mountain  for  our  army  at  this  time  seems  to  be  occupy- 
ing positions  on  three  sides  of  the  mountain.  July  3,  the  enemy  is 
retreating  to  the  Chatlahoochie  river  while  we  follow  and  occupy 
Marietta,  Ga.,  late  in  the  evening. 


MARIETTA,  GEORGIA. 


On  July  5  we  again  move  forward  while  the  left  wing  of  the 
army  is  engaging  the  retreating  foe.  During  this  forward  movement 
our  company  is  on  the  skirmish  line  where  we  remain  two  days  as 
pickets  or  rear  guard  finding  but  slight  resistance  from  the  enemy, 
and  reach  the  Chattahoochie  river  and  camp  near  the  railroad.  Here 
we  enjoy  a  swim  and  bath  while  the  pioneer  corps  is  placing  pon- 
toons across  the  river.  On  July  seven  I  am  sent  with  a  squad  of 
ten  men  to  Division  Headquarters  where  we  are  joined  by  other 
detachments  from  the  Third  division  and  march  up  the  river  several 
miles  where  we  find  a  pioneer  corps  unloading  pontoons  which  are 
used  as  boats  to  convey  our  detachment  of  about  one  hundred  men 
across  the  river.  After  a  few  trips  all  are  landed  on  the  south  side 
near  the  mouth  of  Soap  creek.  We  are  now  deployed  on  the  skir- 
mish line  then  advancing  we  soon  find  the  enemy  outpost.  The 
Johnnies  kindly  fire  at  a  safe  distance  over  our  heads  as  we  move 
forward  and  divide  our  force  at  the  foot  of  a  hill  they  occupy,  each 
detachment  advancing  up  the  valleys.  At  a  signal  we  go  up  the  hill 
on  double  quick  striking  the  enemy  both  front  and  rear  sending  in 
one  volley  which  seems  to  be  sufficient  for  he  quickly  retreats  leav- 
ing a  small  piece  of  artillery.  After  further  search  for  rebel  out- 
posts we  select  a  favorable  position,  build  light  breastworks  and 
camp  for  th  night,  and  on  July  eleventh  return  to  our  commands 
which  have  crossed  the  Chattahoochie  river  and  camped  at  Isham's 
Ferry,  Ga.,  where  the  army  is  allowed  a  rest  until  July  17. 

107 


CHAPTER  VL 


ATLANTA   TO  DECATUR,  GA. 


During  this  time  the  army  is  being  inspected  by  Medical  Di- 
rectors, curious  to  see,  perhaps,  what  men  look  like  who  can  stand 
up  under  the  severe  rawhiding  we  have  been  enduring  during  the  past 
sixty  days.  Blistering  hot  weather  continues  while  frequent  show- 
ers give  a  little  relief.  This  racking  demand  upon  our  strength,  want 
of  sufficient  nourishing  food  is  plainly  shown  in  haggard  faces  and 
unsteady  step  among  the  boys.  Frequently  one  drops  from  the 
ranks  and  is  excused  from  duty  yet  remains  with  the  company  or  at 
the  field  hospital  until  sufficient  strength  is  gained  to  report  for 
duty.  A  few  are  compelled  to  give  up  the  struggle  and  are  sent  to 
the  rear  on  lighter  duty  or  are  discharged  from  service.  Boys  dread 
going  to  hospitals  and  when  possible  they  prefer  taking  chances  with 
their  comrades  than  with  hospital  attaches. 

This  rest  is  doing  us  a  world  of  good.  Boys  are  lounging  in 
their  tents  or  under  trees  when  not  on  duty.  A  large  force  of  men 
is  kept  busy  repairing  and  building  bridges  and  railroad  destroyed  by 
the  retreating  enemy,  and  often  after  these  repairs  are  made  rebel 
cavalry  raiders  dodge  in  and  tear  up  things  genrally,  making  trouble 
and  keeping  us  hungry  much  of  the  time.  Supplies  are  now  coming 
forward  and  we  are  getting  plenty  of  rations  and  other  supplies 
though  but  little  clothing  is  needed  except  shoes.  Many  of  the  pine 
forests  through  which  we  march  and  where  we  sometimes  camp  are 
abandoned  fields  that  plainly  show  evidence  of  cultivation  in  years 
past.  These  forests  also  keep  us  plentifully  supplied  with  jiggers 
and  woodticks. 

The  skeleton  bridges  and  trestle  work  our  engineers  and  pioneer 
corps  are  building  over  streams  and  valleys  do  not  look  substantial 
and  one  would  hesitate  to  walk  over  them,  yet  heavy  trains  of  sup- 
plies pass  over  these  frail  looking  structures.  Rebel  prisoners  are 
surprised  at  the  ingenuity  of  Yankees  and  the  rapidity  shown  in  re- 
pairing railroads  and  bridges.  They  declare  that  "old  Bill  Sherman 
carries  a  supply  of  ready  made  bridges,  adding  that  it  was  useless 
to  blow  up  Tunnel  Hill  for  "old  Bill"  even  carries  a  supply  of 
ready  made  tunnels. 

To  describe  one's  feeling  during  the  past  few  weeks  while  dig- 
ging trenches,  trailing  through  mud,  water  and  underbrush  and  over 
uneven  highways  and  byways  is  impossible.  To  get  an  idea  of  this 
experience  one  must  drop  in  the  ranks  loaded  with  the  necessary 

108 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

supplies  and  equipment  and  subsist  a  portion  of  the  time  on  short 
rations,  then  march  under  the  rays  of  a  Georgia  midsummer  sun  with 
perspiration  running  down  his  body  and  face  and  graybacks  running 
in  divers  directions  over  his  body.  While  enjoying  occasional  short 
rests  he  must  occupy  his  time  seeing  that  musket  and  equipment  is 
kept  in  order.  This  is  all.  The  remainder  of  the  time  he  can  rest. 
Our  hours  for  rest  and  sleep  are  uncertain.  There  is  no  set  time  for 
assembly  call,  or  the  call  to  arms. 

Word  reaches  us  that  during  our  advance  toward  Atlanta  Chap- 
lain Buel  Whitney  was  captured  by  the  enemy's  scouts.  For  the 
past  few  weeks  we  have  seen  but  little  of  our  chaplain  who  is  kept 
busy  while  aiding  in  looking  after  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  drop- 
ping from  the  ranks  every  day,  while  we  have  been  just  as  busy 
marching,  digging  and  dodging  from  cover  to  cover  as  the  army  ad- 
vances with  but  little  time  for  rest. 

It  seems  that  for  the  purpose  of  reaching  some  point  on  the 
line  the  chaplain  borrowed  a  mule  from  a  wagon  master  and  while 
on  his  way  lost  his  bearings  and  wandered  outside  the  lines  and 
is  captured  by  rebel  scouts.  Equipped,  as  he  was,  with  wagon  mas- 
ter's mule,  saddle  and  saddle  bags,  and  without  evidence  that  he 
bore  the  rank  of  a  commissioned  chaplain  the  rebel  colonel  before 
whom  he  was  taken  was  not  disposed  to  accept  his  story.  During 
a  severe  grilling  administered  by  the  rebel  colonel  a  rebel  officer 
entered  the  tent  and  calling  the  colonel  aside  presented  the  latter 
with  a  few  articles  found  in  the  chaplain's  saddle  bags.  The  colonel 
now  believing  his  prisoner  to  be  either  a  scout  or  spy,  seats  himself 
facing  the  chaplain,  yet  with  ill  concealed  attempt  to  look  severe,  he 
roars  out:  "You  say,  Mr.  Whitney,  that  you  are  chaplain  of  the 
104th  Ohio  regiment?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  replies  Whitney.  I  received  that  appointment  some 
months  ago  and  since  that  time  I  have  been  performing  the  duties 
of  that  office." 

After  considerable  more  grilling  the  chaplain  still  maintaining 
that  he  is  telling  the  whole  truth  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  the 
Confederate  colonel  reaches  in  his  pocket  and  produces  a  bottle  of 
whiskey  found  in  the  saddle  bags,  saying: 

"Now,  Mr.  Chaplain,  when  holding  religious  services  do  you  ad- 
minister sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  from  this  decanter?  Then 
reaching  in  the  other  pocket  the  colonel  produces  a  deck  of  cards 
saying  very  loud  and  severely,  "and  do  you  take  your  texts  from  the 
Book  of  Kings  found  in  this  Bible?" 

The  effect  upon  the  prisoner  after  this  evidence  of  his  guilt  was 
produced  was  never  known.  It  is  presumed  that  he  collapsed  for  no 
explanation  could  clear  up  the  situation  in  the  minds  of  his  captors 
until  Colonel  Reilly  got  in  communication  with  the  enemy  and  se- 
cured the  chaplain's  release. 

109 


"Fresh  Fish" 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 
ATLANTA,  GEORGIA. 


The  enemy  is  now  falling  back  within  his  defenses  at  Atlanta,  Ga., 
and  receiving  reinforcements  of  state  militia  and  veteran  troops  from 
other  points  within  the  Confederacy  and  the  tug  of  war  is  near  at 
hand.  General  Johnston,  commanding  the  rebel  forces  is  now  re- 
lieved of  his  command  by  General  Hood.  Detachments  of  recruits 
are  daily  coming  to  our  camps  and  assigned  to  different  regiments 
throughout  the  army.  When  these  recruits  appear  in  camp  the  cry 
of  "Fresh  Fish"  is  heard  coming  from  old  veterans  along  the  line. 
Old  soldiers  easily  detect  the  recruit  by  the  new  uniform  and  size  of 
his  knapsack.  The  recruit  has  carefully  treasured  all  the  extras 
provided  by  mother  and  tokens  of  affection  provided  by  "The  girl 
he  left  behind  him."  All  this  added  to  the  clothing  and  equipment 
provided  by  Uncle  Sam  thus  strapped  upon  his  back  and  viewed 
from  the  rear,  little  can  be  seen  except  an  animated  mass  of  bag- 
gage and  a  pair  of  legs  that  seem  bending  under  the  burden  they 
bear.  After  a  few  days'  marching  in  the  heat  of  a  Georgia  mid- 
summer sun  these  extras  begin  to  disappear.  They  are  thrown  away, 
all  that  which  is  not  absolutely  necessary  to  keep  and  the  other  may 
be  seen  strewn  along  the  roadside,  for  it  is  found  much  easier  to 
lie  down  to  sleep  in  the  fields  and  forest  without  covering  than  to 
be  tortured  with  heavy  loads.  After  the  recruit  has  unloaded  a  por- 
tion of  his  goods  and  chattels  and  is  successful  in  his  "skirmish  for 
graybacks"  he  has  passed  the  entered  apprentice  degree  in  soldiery 
and  is  no  longer  a  "fresh  fish."  A  family  of  full  grown  graybacks  with 
a  wood  tick  or  two,  accompanied  by  a  few  jiggers,  located  between 
the  recruit  and  his  baggage  while  on  a  hot  march  will  make  him 
forget  his  other  troubles  and  a  desire  to  seek  revenge  will  come  as 
naturally  as  a  dog  scratching  fleas.  Soldiers  sometimes  gather  their 
crop  of  these  pests  daily  if  time  is  given,  and  sometimes  weekly, 
yet  a  few  heavy  hided  heroes  are  said  to  be  able  to  stand  up  under 
the  punishment  for  longer  periods  and  then  throw  the  garment  away 
in  order,  they  say,  to  "avoid  an  unnecessary  effusion  of  blood." 
Well  informed  soldiers  claim  that  a  grayback  will  mature  in  twenty- 
four  hours,  which  at  full  growth  very  much  resembles  a  miniature 
land  snapper. 

July  15,  1864,  while  at  this  camp  Nathaniel  Gorgas  of  Lake 
township  and  Thomas  Haynam  of  Paris  township  are  appointed 
corporals.  There  is  no  record  showing  that  either  of  these  boys 
missed  a  day's  service  during  the  two  years  and  ten  months  since 
they  were  mustered  in.  Unless  on  picket  or  guard  duty  they 
answered  to  every  roll  call  until  mustered  out  with  the  com- 
pany at  the  close  of  the  war.  Gorgas  is  one  of  the  lucky  thirteen 
yet  surviving. 

July  17  a  forward  movement  is  ordered  with  our  company  on  the 
skirmish  line.  We  soon  find  the  enemy  and,  closely  supported  by  our 
forces,  drive  the  rebel  skirmishers  about  five  miles  before  nightfall, 
when  we  are  relieved  by  company  "H",  then  retire  to  the  regiment. 

Ill 


Surplus  Baggage  Unloaded 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

On  the  following  day  we  march  about  five  miles  and  camp  on  the 
railroad.  On  July  19  we  move  forward  and  soon  find  the  enemy 
pickets  and  drive  them  to  their  first  line  of  works  defending  the 
city  of  Atlanta.  On  July  20  we  again  move  forward  and  attack  the 
rebels  who  stubbornly  resist  and  hold  their  position  during  the  day. 
We  move  to  the  right  after  dark  and  take  a  position  facing  Atlanta 
on  the  east.  Here  we  camp  in  line  of  battle  and  indications  point  to 
a  struggle  near  at  hand.  The  enemy,  now  under  a  new  commander, 
is  expected  to  assault  our  line  at  any  time.  Early  on  the  following 
morning  we  move  to  a  new  position  and  build  fortifications.  During 
the  afternoon  heavy  firing  is  heard  on  our  left.  On  July  22  we  are 
in  line  before  daylight  and  change  to  a  new  position  where  we  remain 
until  noon  when  we  start  on  a  forced  march  to  another  position  on 
the  left  in  support  of  McPherson  whose  forces  are  hard  pressed  by 
the  enemy  near  the  Decatur  road.  On  reaching  a  position  near  his 
line  we  find  the  struggle  is  over  and  McPherson  has  succeeded  in 
regaining  the  ground  he  lost  at  the  first  assault  of  the  enemy.  We 
camp  for  the  night  near  McPherson's  hospitals  where  scores  of 
surgeons  and  attendants  are  busily  at  work  caring  for  wounded, 
hundreds  of  whom  are  lying  on  the  ground  waiting  their  turn  at  the 
operating  table. 

History  gives  the  loss  of  both  armies  at  this  engagement  at 
about  nine  thousand  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  and  about  three 
thousand  killed. 

Mother  Bickerdyke  and  her  helpers  are  on  hand  giving  aid  and 
comfort  to  the  maimed  and  dying. 

Not  being  called  upon  to  take  part  in  this  deadly  struggle,  we 
anxiously  listen  while  hastening  to  reinforce  McPherson,  while  the 
battling  forces  are  beating  each  other  back  and  forth  finally  ending 
in  defeat  to  the  enemy  and  the  loss  of  the  gallant  McPherson  and 
hundreds  of  others  equally  as  brave. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  our  brigade  is  sent  double  quick  a  distance 
of  about  two  miles  to  protect  the  supply  train  against  a  threatened 
attack  by  rebel  cavalry.  Here  we  remain  until  July  26,  building 
log  fortifications,  after  which  we  return  to  our  position  in  the  line 
and  draw  three  days'  rations.  On  the  following  day  I  am  sent  with 
a  squad  of  ten  men,  with  other  details,  to  work  on  fortifications 
where  we  labor  all  night  building  a  small  fort.  This  work  is  ac- 
complished in  the  midst  of  a  pouring  rain,  thunder  and  lightning  and 
an  occasional  shell  from  the  enemy  lines.  From  July  23  to  July  29 
our  part  of  trie  line  remains  comparatively  quiet,  the  time  mean- 
while occupied  in  building  fortifications,  caring  for  the  wounded 
and  burying  the  dead.  On  July  29  our  brigade  is  sent  out  on  a  scout 
and  find  a  few  rebel  cavalry  who  are  routed,  when  we  return  to  camp 
and  remain  here  until  August  2. 

We  now  learn  that  our  peppery,  yet  kind-hearted  colonel  has 
been  promoted  to  brigadier  general,  a  just  recognition  of  his  sol- 
dierly qualities.  While  in  camp  our  new  brigadier  is  seen  approach- 

113 


"Fresh  Fish  Captures  bis  first  Enemy. 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

ing  the  reserve  and  wishing  to  carry  out  military  usages  and  rules 
the  reserve  guard  is  ordered  out  to  salute  our  new  general.  On 
seeing  these  hurried  movements  Reilly  yells  out,  "Here,  here,  none 
of  that,  this  is  no  place  for  such  d — d  foolishness."  But  we  have  the 
"edge"  on  the  general  and  pay  no  attention  to  his  order  but  fall  in 
line  and  give  the  salute  which  is  returned  by  Reilly  without  further 
protest. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Sterl,  formerly  captain  of  Company  "A"  is 
now  promoted  to  colonel,  and  Major  Jordan  formerly  captain  of 
Company  "K"  is  promoted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  Joseph  Riddle, 
captain  of  Company  "F"  is  promoted  to  major,  where  they  all  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

August  2  we  move  about  eight  miles  to  the  right  of  the  line 
passing  in  the  rear  of  the  other  forces  and  take  our  position  on  the 
right  of  the  Fourth  Corps.  During  this  movement  heavy  firing  is 
kept  up  by  the  skirmish  Hues  between  the  contending  forces,  cap- 
turing a  number  of  rebel  prisoners  during  the  day.  We  work  by 
reliefs  all  night  fortifying  our  new  position  and  on  the  following 
morning  our  company  is  sent  out  on  the  skirmish  line  where  we  are 
allowed  but  little  rest  by  the  enemy  pickets.  In  the  meantime  our 
second  division  is  being  hotly  engaged  on  our  right. 

August  4  our  division  is  moved  over  the  works  and  lined  up  in 
front  and  ordered  forward  in  line  of  battle.  After  reaching  a  position 
in  plain  view  of  the  enemy  we  occupy  a  line  of  his  abandoned  works 
where  we  await  with  fixed  bayonet  and  in  great  suspense  expecting 
every  moment  to  hear  the  bugle  call  to  assault  the  enemy.  A  view 
of  his  well  fortified  line  with  a  clear  field  intervening  is  quite  con- 
vincing that  his  position  can  not  be  carried  without  serious  results. 
The  enemy  sharpshooters  are  watching  closely  and  a  number  of  our 
men  through  carelessness  or  a  show  of  bravado  are  killed  and 
wounded  while  we  await  orders.  After  occupying  this  position  until 
the  following  morning  this  movement  seems  to  have  been  abandoned 
for  we  are  hurried  farther  to  the  right  where  our  brigade  forms 
enmasse  in  a  dense  wood  where  preparations  are  again  made  to 
assault  the  enemy.  Here  the  ambulances  and  stretcherbearers  with 
supplies  on  hand  take  a  position  in  the  rear  to  carry  off  dead  or 
wounded  as  soon  as  the  enemy  supply  the  victims.  This  movement 
is  also  abandoned  and  on  August  sixth  we  move  to  another  position 
on  our  right  southwest  of  the  city. 


UTOY  CREEK. 


The  past  twenty-four  hours  have  been  trying  to  our  nerves.  To 
have  made  an  assault  and  end  the  trouble  would  have  been  less  har- 
rowing to  one's  feelings.  Whatever  the  result  might  have  been,  the 
suspense  would  be  ended.  But  it  was  coming.  At  Utoy  Creek  a 
death  trap  had  been  set  and  in  obedience  to  orders  we  rushed  in  and 

115 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

met  disaster  without  gaining  a  point.  Here  we  are  drawn  up  in 
line,  stack  our  arms  and  go  hurriedly  at  work  throwing  up  a  line  of 
defenses  under  the  enemy's  fire.  With  logs,  rails  or  anything  avail- 
able for  the  purpose  we  emerge  from  the  woods  a  short  distance  in 
an  open  field  and  begin  this  work  while  the  Confederates  are  firing 
musketry  and  shells.  In  the  meantime  our  reinforced  line  of  pickets 
are  being  slaughtered  in  our  front.  Fortunately  the  emeny's  masked 
batteries  are  so  near  our  position  that  many  of  their  shells  do  not 
explode  until  they  have  passed  over  our  heads.  It  appears  that  the 
enemy  only  want  to  let  us  know  they  are  "thar,"  but  do  not  want 
us  to  know  their  full  strength  or  expose  the  masked  position  they 
occupy  until  we  are  lured  well  into  the  trap.  As  soon  as  a  light  bar- 
ricade of  logs,  rails,  etc.,  is  completed  we  rush  forward  to  these 
defenses  with  shovels  and  down  on  our  knees  we  throw  dirt  against 
this  barricade  until  a  bullet-proof  line  is  completed.  We  then  fall 
back  and  exchange  our  shovels  for  muskets  and  return  to  these  de- 
fenses. 

While  this  work  is  under  way  William  Walker,  of  Paris 
township,  receives  a  severe  gunshot  wound  and  is  taken  to  the 
hospital.  From  there  he  was  granted  a  furlough  home,  return- 
ing to  the  company  for  duty  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  December 
2,  following.  Walker  is  one  of  the  few  men  who  never  answered 
to  a  sick  call  during  his  term  of  service  or  drew  his  ration  of 
quinine,  but  answered  to  the  call  of  duty  during  thirty  months' 
service.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  company  at  the  close  of 
the  war.  One  of  the  13  survivors  of  the  company. 

Soon  after  occupying  this  position  another  strong  detail  of 
troops  is  sent  out  to  support  the  pickets  now  engaging  the  enemy, 
and  the  reinforced  line  now  advance  and  when  within  a  stone's  throw 
of  the  rebel's  masked  riffe  pits  and  artillery,  they  open  a  withering 
fire  that  sends  down  a  large  number  of  the  attacking  force.  Our 
boys  drop  down  seeking  shelter  wherever  it  may  be  found.  The 
rebels  now  cease  firing  for  a  short  time  and  call  to  our  boys  to  come 
in  as  prisoners  or  be  killed  where  they  lay.  "I  see  you,  Yank,  and  if 
you  all  don't  come  in  we'll  fill  you  all  full  of  holes,  so  better  hurry 
up,"  and  other  demands  of  this  nature  are  made  by  the  rebels.  A 
number  of  our  boys  who  occupy  exposed  positions  now  surrender 
and  pass  in  over  the  rebel  fortifications,  while  other  who  feel  rea- 
sonably safe  remain  in  their  position  or  "crawfish"  back  and  escape, 
though  a  number  are  shot  while  making  the  attempt.  It  is  now 
known  that  the  task  is  a  hopeless  one  for  the  enemy's  concealed  rifle 
pits  are  seen  with  a  strong  force  defending  their  line.  Word  passes 
along  the  line  that  the  entire  division  will  now  be  thrown  against 
the  enemy.  If  this  move  is  contemplated  it  was  abandoned  after  our 
commander  becomes  aware  of  the  situation.  All  who  can,  now  fall 
back  out  of  range  of  the  enemy  fire  where  we  remain  until  Axigust 
7  when  the  enemy  having  been  flanked  out  of  his  position  we  move 
forward  to  these  abandoned  works  and  examine  the  death  trap  into 
which  we  were  lured. 

Along  the  crest  of  a  ridge  the  rebels  built  their  rifle  pits  in  a 

116 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

thickly  wooded  position  making  these  rifle  pits  in  an  angling  form, 
each  angle  twenty  feet  or  more  in  length,  covering  the  dirt  thrown 
from  this  pit  with  brush  and  leaves.  The  position  and  formation 
of  the  enemy's  works  make  it  almost  impossible  for  an  attacking 
force  to  find  cover  from  their  cross  fire.  A  slight  depression  in  the 
earth,  a  friendly  stump,  or  even  a  bush  is  sought  by  our  men  as  a 
means  of  protection  and  concealment.  Our  dead  left  on  the  field 
are  now  found  stripped  of  clothing.  These  bodies  are  gathered 
together  and  carried  to  the  rear  for  identification.  Among  the  visitors 
is  General  Reilly  who  passes  along  viewing  the  row  of  dead  and 
soon  departs  while  tears  are  seen  streaming  down  his  cheeks.  The 
loss  in  our  brigade  is  four  hundred  and  fifty  killed,  wounded  and 
missing. 

An  incident  showing  great  courage  and  devotion  is  witnessed 
during  this  engagement.  Samuel  Haag  and  his  young  brother, 
Henry,  of  Marlboro,  are  lying  side  by  side  near  the  enemy  line 
in  a  position  where  they  are  unable  to  retreat  without  great 
danger  and  the  only  thing  left  to  do  is  to  surrender  or  remain 
in  their  position  hoping  to  escape  in  some  way.  Seeing  an  op- 
portunity for  a  shot  the  younger  boy  raises  his  right  shoulder 
to  aim  thus  exposing  his  position.  Before  he  is  ready  to  fire  he 
is  mortally  wounded,  the  ball  entering  his  right  shoulder  at  the 
base  of  the  neck  and  passing  into  his  body.  Facing  this  great 
danger  Samuel  lifts  his  brother  from  the  ground  and  bears  him 
to  the  rear  amid  showers  of  balls  and  derisive  yells  from  the 
enemy.  They  reach  a  place  of  safety  without  further  injury  and 
remain  together  until  the  boy's  death. 

Samuel  Haag  the  elder  of  three  brothers  in  our  company, 
was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  December,  1862,  from 
where  he  applied  for  a  furlough  home  which  was  refused.  Be- 
lieving he  could  not  withstand  exposure  of  military  service  dur- 
ing the  winter,  he  deserted  the  command  December  29,  1862. 
Under  the  President's  proclamation  pardoning  those  absent  with- 
out leave  who  return  to  their  commands,  he  reported  to  the 
company  for  duty  and  served  faithfully  until  October,  1864  when 
he  was  again  sent  to  the  hospital  from  where  he  was  granted  a 
furlough  home  where  he  died  before  the  expiration  of  his  fur- 
lough, December  13,  1864. 

Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise  of  the  brave  southern  boys 
who  remained  loyal  to  the  Union  and  who  suffered  persecu- 
tion at  their  homes  because  of  their  loyalty  to  the  flag.  Many  of 
these  men  have  been  driven  from  their  homes  and  families  and 
enlisting  in  the  Union  army  are  now  fighting  neighbors  and  "kin 
folks."  We  have  in  our  Division  the  First  Tennessee  infantry 
whose  term  of  service  expired  a  few  days  before  this  engagement 
that  now  gives  a  sublime  test  of  its  patriotism.  Col.  Byrd,  com- 
manding this  regiment,  is  informed  by  General  Cox  that  the  services 
of  his  regiment  is  needed  at  this  critical  time  and  asks  Byrd  if  his 
men  will  consent  to  remain  a  short  time.  The  colonel  calls  his  men 
in  line  and  after  stating  the  request  made  by  the  General,  he  asks 
all  who  are  willing  to  remain  a  short  time  to  step  to  the  front. 
Every  man  now  steps  forward  and  in  the  engagements  that  follow 
the  regiment  suffers  considerable  loss  before  its  discharge  from 
service. 

117 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

We  now  move  to  the  right  of  the  line  and  build  fortifications 
continuing  this  work  until  the  eleventh.  In  the  meantime  heavy 
firing  is  heard  on  our  left  while  brisk  skirmishing  is  kept  up  in  our 
front  until  the  enemy  drive  our  skirmishers  back  to  the  line  and 
build  fortifications  under  our  fire  and  within  sight  of  our  position. 
This  brings  on  a  sharp  engagement  on  the  skirmish  line  which  we 
have  reinforced  to  meet  this  advance,  and  is  accompanied  by  a  heavy 
thunderstorm,  and  flashes  of  lightning  mingle  with  flashes  of  mus- 
ketry and  artillery.  On  August  twelfth  we  are  relieved  by  the 
Fourteenth  Corps  when  our  brigade  is  sent  to  the  right  on  a  recon- 
noissance  driving  the  enemy's  pickets  back  to  their  main  line  of 
works.  After  this  work  is  accomplished  we  return  and  take  a  new 
position  and  begin  building  fortifications. 

While  these  works  are  under  construction  on  August  sixteen, 
Captain  Southworth  is  accidentally  killed.  With  my  squad  of  men 
we  are  engaged  in  digging  trenches  on  our  section  of  a  barricade 
of  logs  and  the  captain  is  standing  on  the  bank  nearby.  An  alarm 
is  given  by  choppers  in  a  company  adjoining,  when  I  notice  a  tree 
falling  in  the  direction  of  our  position.  Without  looking  from 
whence  the  danger  is  coming  Southworth  ran  directly  parallel  with 
the  falling  tree  and  after  running  a  short  distance  is  in  the  act  of 
leaping  over  a  log  when  the  falling  tree  strikes  the  barricade  of  logs 
about  midway  its  length  with  such  force  that  the  top  springs  down 
and  the  body,  or  large  limb  of  the  tree  strikes  his  head  killing  him 
almost  instantly.  He  seemed  to  have  mounted  the  log  at  the  instant 
the  tree  top  springs  down,  otherwise  he  might  have  escaped.  When 
the  tree  top  ceased  its  vibrations  it  rested  about  ten  feet  above  the 
log  on  which  Southworth  leaped.  Boys  in  the  trenches  dropped 
down  and  escaped  injury,  while  I  ran  a  short  distance  parallel  with 
the  works  and  stop  in  time  to  witness  the  death  of  our  unfortunate 
captain.  This  leaves  us  without  a  commissioned  officer  in  the  com- 
pany, and  Captain  Vanderhoof  of  Company  "A"  is  placed  in  tem- 
porary command. 

Andrew  J.  Southworth,  of  Marlboro,  is  the  only  commis- 
sioned officer  in  Company  "B"  who  has  shared  with  the  men  of 
his  company  the  dangers  and  hardships  we  have  met  up  to  this 
time.  With  the  exception  of  a  fifteen  day  furlough  he  has  been 
on  duty  from  the  date  of  muster  in  until  his  death. 

A  rough  coffin  is  made  of  fence  boards  by  his  comrades  in 
which  the  body  is  placed,  and  buried  with  the  honors  of  war. 
Captain  Southworth's  body  is  afterward  removed  and  buried  near 
the  village  of  Marlboro. 

Soon  after  Southworth's  death,  Orderly  Sergeant  Vick  is  com- 
missioned second  lieutenant  and  assigned  for  duty  with  Company 
"D",  and  First  Lieutenant  Knapp  of  Company  "E"  of  Massillon,  O., 
is  placed  in  command  of  our  company,  relieving  Vanderhoof.  Knapp 
remains  in  command  of  Company  "B"  until  January,  1865,  when 
Lieutenant  Henvy  Vick  is  commissioned  first  lieutenant  and  returns 
to  the  company  where  he  remains  in  command  until  the  close  of  the 
war. 

118 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

While  at  this  camp  John  Shanefelt,  of  Lake,  township,  is 
assigned  to  the  duties  of  company  commissary  where  he  remains 
until  April,  1865,  when  he  is  sent  to  the  hospital,  returning  to  the 
company  for  duty  at  Greensboro,  N.  C.  After  service  on  duty 
with  the  company  thirty-three  months  he  is  mustered  out  at  the 
close  of  the  war. 

August  17,  1864,  Sergeant  Cicero  Hawley,  of  Salem,  O.,  is 
sent  to  the  hospital  from  where  he  receives  a  furlough,  re- 
turning to  the  company  for  duty  at  Nashville,  Term.,  December  5. 
February,  1865  he  is  detailed  for  duty  at  the  printing  office  at 
Kinston,  N.  C..  returning  to  the  company  May  12.  After  serving 
on  duty  with  the  company  nearly  twenty-four  months  he  is  mus- 
tered out  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

August  18  we  are  again  called  in  line  and  march  in  the  direction 
of  the  right  wing  of  the  army,  while  heavy  cannonading  is  heard  on 
our  left.  On  arriving  at  the  position  assigned  we  begin  active  work 
building  fortifications,  completing  the  work  on  the  following  day. 
We  now  pitch  our  tents  and  when  snugly  fixed  the  assembly  call  is 
given.  When  all  ready  to  move  the  order  to  march  is  countermanded. 
While  occupying  this  position  we  are  visited  by  a  lively  shelling 
from  the  enemy  and  showers  of  rain,  such  a  common  occurrence 
during  the  past  sixty  days  that  neither  seems  to  disturb  us  much. 
On  August  20  our  regiment  is  sent  out  on  a  scout  and  advance  to  a 
point  near  the  enemy  lines  where  we  remain  quietly  for  some 
purpose  unknown  to  us,  standing  here  in  darkness  and  rain  until 
near  midnight.  While  returning  to  our  position  in  the  line  the 
colonel  loses  his  bearings  and  for  a  time  we  are  lost  in  the  darkness 
of  a  dense  forest,  finally  reaching  our  place  on  the  line.  Our  posi- 
tion now  seems  to  be  near  the  right  of  our  army  where  we  are  hav- 
ing but  little  trouble  with  the  enemy.  Here  we  remain  quietly  in 
camp  and  again  are  cut  in  rations  to  three-fifths  of  usual  allowance. 
On  August  28  we  move  farther  south  and  after  building  light  de- 
fenses we  bivouac  for  the  night.  On  the  following  day  our  march 
is  continued  a  few  miles  in  a  southerly  direction,  where  light  de- 
fenses are  again  built  and  we  remain  here  until  August  30  when 
we  again  move  south  passing  the  position  held  by  the  Fourth  Corps 
and  late  in  the  evening  again  bivouac  for  the  night.  Our  position 
now  seems  to  be  nearly  south  of  Atlanta  and  a  guess  is  made  by 
the  boys  that  we  will  soon  strike  a  railroad  and  perhaps  a  lot  of 
trouble.  Our  military  experts  under  muskets  have  anticipated  about 
all  the  movements  made  since  the  beginning  of  the  campaign  and 
Sherman's  management  of  the  forces  meets  their  approval.  But  we 
are  now  considerably  south  of  Atlanta  and  Fritz  is  becoming  alarmed 
over  the  safety  of  our  bread  and  bacon  line.  He  fears  that  the 
mental  strain  of  the  past  few  weeks  has  unbalanced  the  general's 
mind,  yet  the  boys  can't  persuade  him  to  carry  a  word  of  warning  to 
the  general.  A  lively  argument  is  now  under  way  and  Fowler  in- 
forms the  whole  bunch  that  they  are  afflicted  with  disordered  minds 
yet  they  deny  it.  We  take  turns  abusing  these  pests  for  introducing 
arguments  on  short  rations,  which  are  due  to  frequent  raids  on  our 
supply  trains  made  by  the  rebel  General  Joe  Wheeler.  A  portion  of 

119 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

the  sowbelly  we  draw  bears  evidence  of  having  at  one  time  belonged 
to  some  old  brood  sow  in  the  farmer's  barnyard,  but  it's  quantity, 
not  quality  we  now  yearn  for.  Yes,  we  would  gladly  pay  good  money 
for  Kentucky  pies,  and  agree  to  eat  them  for  our  belts  have  been 
tightened  up  to  the  last  hole. 

With  all  the  rains  and  abundance  of  water  Joe's  and  George's 
faces  are  so  dirty  we  are  almost  at  a  loss  to  identify  them  until 
they  answer  to  their  names  at  roll  call.  Inspections  have  been  neg- 
lected of  late,  consequently  they  have  had  no  occasion  to  remove 
their  masks.  The  width  of  white  rings  surrounding  their  mouths 
seems  to  indicate  that  Joe's  tongue  is  a  trifle  the  longest. 

Rumors  are  now  afloat  that  "Uncle  Billie"  is  executing  a  flank 
movement  that  will  determine  the  fate  of  Atlanta  and  we  share  with 
Fritz  and  others  a  fear  that  our  bread  and  bacon  line  will  be  inter- 
rupted by  rebel  cavalry  raids  on  our  supply  trains  for  any  more 
shortening  of  rations  will  surely  starve  us  out.  This  marching  and 
digging  in  this  blistering  heat  and  want  of  sufficient  nourishing 
food  continues  sending  boys  to  the  hospital  to  recuperate  until  at 
times  we  have  less  than  twenty  men  able  for  duty. 

On  August  31  bugle  calls  are  heard  in  many  directions  indicating 
a  general  movement  of  the  army.  This  unusual  bustle  and  noise  is 
an  inspiration  and  all  seem  anxious  hoping  that  the  Georgia  cam- 
paign and  fall  of  Atlanta  is  near  at  hand.  We  now  start  southward 
with  a  strong  skirmish  line  in  front  pumping  lead  at  the  slowly  re- 
treating rebel  skirmishers  until  the  Macon  railroad  is  reached  near 
Rough  and  Ready,  where  hurriedly  we  stack  arms  and  baggage  and 
all  go  to  work  tearing  up  railroad  track  with  every  one  on  the 
jump.  Drawing  the  spikes  at  place  of  beginning  we  form  in  lines 
and  soon  sections  of  the  track  is  turned  upside  down.  Rails  are  heat- 
ed and  twisted  and  ties  not  used  in  building  fortifications  are  burned. 
A  short  time  before  reaching  the  railroad,  engine  whistles  are  heard 
in  the  direction  of  Atlanta  and  an  enemy  train  of  cars  is  captured 
by  our  forces.  We  build  fortifications  here  and  remain  during  the 
night.  In  the  meantime  distant  heavy  firing  is  heard  where  our 
forces  are  engaging  the  enemy.  Early  on  the  morning  of  Septem- 
ber 1  we  advance  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy  and  soon  find  his 
pickets  who  are  driven  back  to  his  main  force  where  we  are  held  in 
check  a  short  time  and  then  advance  in  pursuit  of  the  now  retreating 
rebel  forces.  During  this  movement  hundreds  of  rebel  prisoners  and 
deserters  are  passing  to  the  rear.  Night  coming  on  firing  along  the 
line  ceases  and  we  bivouac  for  the  night.  Noises  heard  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Atlanta  convince  us  that  the  rebels  are  abandoning  the  city 
and  blowing  up  trains  and  destroying  munitions  of  war. 

Two  more  soldiers  drop  from  the  ranks  today  and  are  sent  to  the 
field  hospital  and  from  there  to  Jonesboro,  then  to  Atlanta,  report- 
ing to  the  company  in  a  few  days  at  Decatur,  Ga.,  where  the  Twenty- 
Third  Corps  encamped. 

"Atlanta  is  ours  and  fairly  won,"  is  an  interesting  sentence  in  an 

120 


^Footprints  Through  Dixie 

address  given  to  the  army  by  General   Sherman  and  read  on  dress 
parade  on  the  following  day. 

September  2,  1864,  George  Werner,  of  Marlboro,  is  sent  to 
the  field  hospital  and  from  there  to  Atlanta,  returning  to  the 
company  on  the  twelfth,  while  encamped  at  Decatur,  Ga.  With 
the  exception  of  this  short  absence  he  served  on  duty  with  his 
company  every  day  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  is  mustered 
out  of  service  at  Greensboro,  N.  C. 

On  the  same  date  J.  W.  Gaslcill,  of  Marlboro,  is  sent  to  the 
Tiospital,  returning  to  the  company  on  September  nineteen  at 
Decatur,  Oa.  September  15.  1862.  he  was  sent  to  the  field  hospital 
at  Camp  Snow  Pond,  Ky.,  returning  for  duty  November  10,  fol- 
lowing, at  Lexington,  Ky.  Appointed  corporal  at  Strawberry 
Plains,  Tenn.,  January  1,  1864,  and  one  of  the  boys  who  "slipped 
the  halter"  at  Bellaire,  Ohio,  returning  to  the  company  for  duty 
at  Wilmington,  N.  C.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and 
is  mustered  out  at  Greensboro,  N.  C.  after  thirty-one  months' 
service  in  the  ranks. 

Atlanta,  the  heart  of  the  Confederacy  has  been  pierced  and  Grant 
is  pounding  away  at  its  head.  We  are  hoping  the  crisis  is  about 
passed,  at  least  for  military  operations  in  the  southwest.  During 
the  past  four  months  we  have  lost  over  twenty  thousand  men,  nearly 
one-fourth  of  the  force  we  started  with.  Four  thousand  of  these 
now  occupy  graves  that  mark  our  pathway  between  Atlanta  and 
Chattanooga,  where  many  sleep  in  unknown  graves  far  from  their 
northern  homes  and  many  have  dropped  from  the  ranks  through  ex- 
haustion, lack  of  physical  strength  to  face  the  hardships,  and  these 
are  either  discharged  or  transferred  to  invalid  corps,  while  others 
are  suffering  the  torments  of  rebel  prisons. 

Hood  has  retreated  southward  and  gone  into  camp  and  we  are 
promised  a  season  of  rest  if  the  enemy  will  permit.  The  Twenty- 
Third  army  corps  has  gone  into  camp  and  all  are  hoping  Grant  may 
soon  capture  that  "last  ditch"  and  we  can  return  to  our  homes  before 
another  winter.  The  situation  is  being  discussed  in  the  ranks.  One 
military  strategist  in  the  company  informs  us  that  after  a  short  rest 
our  army  will  chase  Hood  to  Virginia  and  unite  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  and  there  finish  up  the  job.  But  these  generals  under 
knapsacks  do  not  agree  and  the  plans  for  future  operations  are 
threshed  out  without  consulting  the  commanding  general. 

After  the  fall  of  Atlanta  the  sick  and  disabled  are  loaded  into 
ambulances  and  government  wagons  and  conveyed  to  that  city,  a 
distance  of  twenty-two  miles.  A  battle-scarred  hotel  called  the 
Empire  House  is  fitted  up  as  a  hospital  and  here  our  train  of  ex- 
hausted, sick  and  wounded  boys  are  taken.  During  this  long  trip 
over  rough  and  dusty  roads  all  who  are  unable  to  walk  short  dis- 
tances must  grin  and  bear  the  punishment.  Boys  able  to  do  a  little 
walking  spend  the  time  trying  to  determine  which  is  the  greater 
punishment,  walking  or  riding  in  the  wagons.  After  walking  short 
distances  they  seem  fully  determined  that  riding  is  easier  but  change 
their  minds  in  a  short  time  after  climbing  back  in  the  wagons. 
Thus  the  punishment  is  alternated  until  the  city  is  reached  when  a 

121 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

number  of  sick  and  wounded  boys  are  found  in  a  pitiable  condition. 
During  our  stay  here  we  who  are  able  to  walk  are  permitted  to  pro 
out  over  the  city  where  the  effect  of  our  bombardment  during  the 
siege  is  seen.  I  occupy  a  room  in  the  hospital  with  a  severely 
wounded  sharp  shooter  who  is  found  dead  on  his  cot  the  second 
morning  after  our  arrival.  Our  nurse  is  probably  out  on  the  street 
finding  some  occupation  more  to  his  taste. 

Depopulating  of  the  city  is  now  under  way.  Families  are  load- 
ing their  household  goods  in  wagons  and  carts  and  departing  south- 
ward. A  very  sharp  correspondence  is  going  on  between  Generals 
Sherman  and  Hood  in  regard  to  removal  of  the  citizens  to  the  rap- 
idly decreasing  boundary  of  the  C.  S.  A.  As  usual  Sherman  has 
things  his  way  and  a  truce  of  five  days  is  agreed  upon  and  during 
this  time  citizens  are  assisted  by  Union  soldiers  in  loading  the 
household  goods  which  are  hauled  to  Rough  and  Ready  where  they 
are  turned  over  to  rebel  authorities  and  from  there  conveyed  to 
points  within  the  Confederate  lines,  a  military  necessity,  perhaps, 
but  cruel.  "War  is  cruelty  and  you  cannot  refine  it,"  says  Sherman. 
The  penalty  of  treason  visited  upon  old  age,  infancy  and  poverty. 
Wealthy  southerners  who  are  responsible  for  this  great  war  of  de- 
vastation and  death  leave  homes  as  we  invade  their  territory  and 
thus  in  a  great  measure  escape  hardships  and  throw  the  burden  of 
suffering  upon  helpless  and  innocent.  Yet  men  who  can  shut  de- 
fenseless prisoners  up  in  vile  pens  and  slowly  starve  them  to  death 
can  desert  the  sick  and  helpless  among  their  own  people. 

Army  supplies  are  coming  in  by  rail  and  wagon  trains  and 
Atlanta  is  taking  on  the  appearance  of  a  great  military  camp  now 
almost  made  up  of  soldiers  and  governmental  employes. 


122 


CHAPTER  VII. 


NASHVILLE,  TENN.,  TO  CLIFFTON,  TENN. 


After  the  fall  of  the  city  our  army  corps  march  to  Decatur,  Ga., 
and  camp  for  a  season  of  rest.  General  Reilly  orders  inspection  for 
each  Sunday  while  in  camp.  We  appear  on  inspection  and  pass  in 
review  in  fair  shape  considering  our  tough  treatment  during  the 
past  four  months  of  exposure  to  this  blistering  climate  and  the 
many  miles  we  have  marched  during  the  advance  and  "whiplashing" 
from  flank  to  flank  to  head  off  or  engage  the  enmy.  After  about 
one  hundred  days  under  the  enemy  fire  and  a  scorching  Georgia 
midsummer  sun  we  are  now  fire-tested  and  physically  tried  and 
fried  out.  Soldierly  discipline,  with  the  almost  daily  screaming  of 
shot  and  shell  and  whistle  of  musket  balls  pass  unnoticed.  They  are 
a  part  of  our  daily  life.  The  unsatisfied  appetite  sharpened  by 
constant  labor,  and  an  end  to  this  drive  are  matters  of  first  con- 
sideration by  the  man  under  a  musket.  Yet  a  number  of  these 
"Salamanders"  are  able  to  stand  up  under  this  grilling  demand  upon 
their  strength  with  vitality  to  spare  to  meet  any  argument  that 
comes  up. 

September  8,  1864,  while  at  this  camp  Thomas  C.  Fowler,  of 
Marlboro,  is  appointed  corporal.  This  tall,  slender,  sixteen- 
year-old  boy  at  time  of  enlistment,  was  absent,  sick  and  on  de- 
tached service  about  one  month.  After  service  in  the  ranks 
of  thirty-rbree  months  he  was  mustered  out  with  the  company  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  Now  one  of  the  survivors  of  the  com- 
pany. 

September  12,  Captain  Perdue  visits  the  company  long  enough  to 
shake  hands  with  the  boys,  then  returns  to  his  duties  in  the  ordnance 
department. 

We  remain  in  this  camp  performing  picket  and  camp  duties  until 
September  15,  then  move  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  railroad 
and  clean  up  a  new  camp.  On  September  22  we  begin  building  for- 
tifications completing  the  work  on  September  27.  In  the  meantime 
our  muskets  are  cleaned  up  and  put  in  order,  U.  S.  plates  and  bay- 
onets are  polished.  Joe  and  George  and  other  dirty  faced  boys 
wash  and  comb  their  hair  with  their  fingers,  but  their  necks  and 
ears  remain  much  unchanged.  Whiskers  are  beginning  to  show  in 
spots  on  our  faces,  but  all  the  spots  are  not  whiskers.  Water  is 
sometimes  scarce  and  soap  costs  money,  though  the  quartermaster 
hands  out  a  small  portion  occasionally — soap  not  money.  In  standard 
money  this  easy  job  is  now  bringing  us  five  dollars  and  seventy- 
five  cents  a  month,  nineteen  cents  per  day,  with  board  and  lodging, 

123 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

washing  not  included.    To  give  up  one-half  a  day's  wages  for  a  smalE 
cake  of  soap  is  reckless  extravagance. 

On  September  27  we  axe  mustered  for  six  months'  pay.  Nearly 
one-fourth  of  the  boys  who  lined  up  at  the  last  pay  day  are  now 
missing.  They  are  in  graves,  hospitals  artd  prisom  During  the  past 
four  morrths  sutlers  have  been  unable  to  keep  up  with  the  armyr 
consequently  we  are  able  to  draw  out  about  all  our  pay  and  a  liberal 
portion  of  this  is  given  to-  the  chaplain  to  be  sent  home.  I  receive 
ninety-six  dollars  artd  send  home  sixty  dollars  in  greenbacks  now 
said  to  be  worth  about  twenty-five  dollars  in  gold. 

We  receive  congratulations  of  the  country  through  the  Presi- 
dent's proclamation  setting  apart  a  day  of  solemn  thanksgiving  for 
our  success,  which  is  read  on  dress  parade.  We  surely  appreciate 
this  artd  are  in  a  position  to  enter  into  the  spirit  of  thanksgiving 
with  joy,  hoping  that  an  end  to  the  suffering  throughout  the  land 
is  near.  We  also  receive  good  news  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
where  that  army  is  gradually  wearing  out  the  Confederate  forces 
defending  the  city  of  Richmond.  We  can  now  see  the  beginning  of 
the  end  and  look  forward  to  an  early  closing  of  the  war  and  return 
to  our  homes. 

On  September  28  the  bugle  sounds  the  assembly  when  we  start 
out  in  light  marching  order  to  meet  a  threatened  attack  by  rebel 
cavalry  on  our  forage  train,  but  the  enemy  is  not  found,  so  we  re- 
turn to  camp,  reaching  our  quarters  about  four  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. On  September  29  another  movement  is  ordered  to  accompany 
the  forage  train  to  the  vicinity  of  Stone  Mountain,  about  eight 
miles  distant,  from  where  we  return  the  same  day  with  wagons 
loaded  with  provender  for  man  and  beast.  Uncle  Sam  is  a  wonder- 
fully successful  forager.  There  is  no  haggling  over  prices  or  terms, 
and  no  time  wasted  in  corning  to  an  understanding  between  the 
planter  and  a  line  of  bayonets.  He  silently  and  with  great  show  of 
dignity  watches  the  fruits  of  his  slaves'  labor  leaving  the  planta- 
tion to  supply  his  enemy.  He  has  sown  the  seeds  of  treason  that 
have  ripened  into  supplies  to  meet  the  demands  of  this  enemy  and 
all  he  can  do  is  to  grin  and  bear  it.  He  bears  up  with  "honah" 
but  refuses  to  grin.  Naked  and  half  clad  pickanninies  scamper  to 
their  cabins  and  other  hiding  places  to  escape  being  eaten  alive  by 
Yanks. 

While  on  this  trip  Fritz  is  reminded  of  his  visit  over  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  making  comparisons  between  Stone  Mountain  and  the 
hills  down  about  Kishiquo — ,  but  he  gets  no  farther  with  his  story 
for  the  boy's  strike  up  one  of  their  favorite  songs  and  smother 
Fritz  before  further  damage  is  done.  Now  Fritz  goes  mad  and  says 
many  things  no  one  can  hear.  When  the  song  is  finished  the  boys 
call  for  the  remainder  of  the  story,  then  Fritz  tells  them  all  to 
go  to  '1  This  starts  a  peppery  quarrel  with  Yonie  and  Fritz  as  the 
principal  speakers.  They  are  ever  ready  for  an  argument,  espe- 
cially Fritz,  who  is  said  to  talk  in  his  sleep  to  make  up  for  lost 

124 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

time.  Yonie  declares  that  Fritz  springs  from  ancestors  known  in 
the  old  country  as  "lop  eared  Dutch"  who  emigrated  to  Berks 
County,  Pa.,  in  early  years  and  that  the  stock  has  never  improved.  As 
Fritz's  ears  stand  out  well  from  his  head,  and  are  generously  large 
(a  sign  of  generosity  that  does  not  belie  him),  he  resents  this  and 
fires  a  broadside  at  Yonie's  bow  legs  "that  are  so  badly  warped 
that  he  wallcs  like  a  man  with  ingrowing  nails  on  both  feet."  When 
Fritz's  thinking  machinery  is  working  hard  he  has  a  habit  of  shifting 
the  crown  of  his  head  horizontally,  producing  a  movement  of  his 
•ears  in  the  opposite  direction  which  reminds  observers  of  these 
unusual  movements.  Yonie  says,  "of  a  dog  watching  a  rat  hole." 
The  sergeant  now  takes  a  hand  in  the  argument  and  closes  the 
case. 

October  1  we  are  ordered  to  prepare  for  inspection  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  and  Joe  is  seen  washing,  and  then  using  the  tail  of  his 
shirt  to  dry  his  face,  and  leaves  the  towel  hang  out  to  dry.  All  are 
busy  cleaning  up.  Gun  barrels  and  bayonets  are  polished,  also  U.  S. 
plates  and  buckles.  Perhaps  a  little  sowbelly  grease  is  rubbed  over 
shoes,  cartridge  boxes  and  belts.  Many  boys  take  pride  in  present- 
ing a  tidy  appearance  on  inspection  while  others  look  upon  this  as 
all  vanity  and  waste  of  time  that  can  be  better  occupied  in  resting 
or  playing  seven-up.  But  we  have  due  respect  for  Reilly's  penetrat- 
ing voice  and  none  want  to  draw  his  fire.  October  2  we  appear  on 
inspection  making  a  better  appearance  than  at  any  time  since  the 
beginning  of  the  campaign,  though  with  perceptably  shorter  lines. 
This  punishment  is  followed  by  a  heavy  rain  storm  that  continues 
well  into  the  night.  On  October  3  we  receive  marching  orders  which 
are  countermanded  and  renewed  the  following  morning  when  we 
take  up  the  line  of  march  in  a  northerly  direction.  We  cross  Chat- 
tahoochie  river  and  after  a  march  of  twelve  miles  bivouac,  continuing 
the  march  on  the  following  morning,  passing  through  Marietta 
and  on  to  Kenesaw  mountain  where  we  camp  after  a  march  of  four- 
teen miles. 

We  now  learn  that  Hood  has  set  out  for  a  raid  and  is  cutting 
telegraph  lines  and  tearing  up  the  railroad  tracks  in  our  rear,  our 
only  line  of  communication  with  the  north  and  over  which  our  sup- 
plies must  come.  "This  is  done  for  the  purpose  of  compelling  Sher- 
man to  abandon  Atlanta  and  the  territory  we  have  taken  between 
here  and  Chattanooga,"  say  our  brigadiers  in  the  ranks.  They  are 
losing  faith  in  Sherman's  generalship  and  probably  have  guessed 
Hood's  purpose,  yet  their  advanced  ideas  of  military  operations  do 
not  impress  listeners  that  they  are  military  strategists,  but  there 
is  not  one  among  them  who  will  deny  it. 

With  mouth  ajar  and  one  eye  closed  Fowler  impatiently  listens 
to  these  criticisms  of  Sherman's  generalship.  Fowler  prefers  sil- 
ence in  the  ranks  and  has  enough  troubles  of  his  own.  He  says 
things  to  those  pests  today  that  should  wither  their  conceit.  He  ad- 
vises these  strategists  to  write  the  President  and  have  Fritz  placed 

125 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

in  command  of  the  army.  Friz  and  Yonie  agree  that  the  campaign 
has  turned  out  to  be  a  failure,  for  Hood  is  now  in  our  rear  and 
will  gain  all  the  territory  the  rebels  have  lost  between  Chattanooga 
and  Atlanta.  Yonie,  a  handy  and  daring  boy  in  giving  out  opinions, 
intimates  that  a  closer  watch  of  the  signs  when  movements  are 
made  would  be  much  to  our  advantage,  believing  this  is  just  as 
essential  when  making  military  movements  as  when  planting  pota- 
toes or  weaning  calves.  The  argument  continues  on  and  so  do  we 
and  after  a  march  of  about  six  miles  we  go  in  camp.  On  October  7 
accompanied  by  the  Twelfth  Kentucky  regiment  we  go  out  on  a 
reconnoissance  and  after  a  march  of  several  miles  over  a  number 
of  rough  roads  return  to  camp  and  draw  rations. 

While  on  this  scout  Ritchey  starts  more  trouble  between  Yonie 
and  Fritz  who  are  bunk  mates  and  button  their  half  tents  together 
at  the  end  of  our  marches.  Fritz  is  known  to  be  careless  about 
harvesting  his  crop  of  graybacks  and  Ritchey  says  that  Yonie  re- 
ports that  Fritz  can  breed  enough  graybacks  in  one  week  to  supply 
a  whole  brigade,  adding  that  on  several  occasions  Fritz  has  awaken- 
ed in  the  morning  and  found  that  his  graybacks  have  carried  him 
out  of  the  tent.  Of  course  Yonie  denies  this  but  a  quarrel  is  now 
under  way  and  is  kept  alive  and  going  with  Ritchey's  aid.  When 
camp  is  reached  these  chums  dissolve  partnership  and  each  pitches 
his  half  tent  separately  which  leaves  an  entrance  to  their  sleeping 
apartments  but  little  larger  than  a  ground  hog  hole.  These  boys 
are  contentious,  too  much  alike  to  live  together  peaceably,  but  they 
soon  make  up  and  button  together  again. 

On  October  8  we  are  ordered  to  be  in  readiness  for  a  quick 
movement  and  all  are  ready  to  march  but  we  hang  around  an  hour 
or  more,  then  march  north  passing  through  Ackworth  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Allatoona  and  soon  hear  the  boom  of  cannon  and  crack  of 
musketry  which  quickens  our  movement,  keeping  short  legged  boys 
on  the  trot.  We  are  informed  that  General  Hood  has  attacked 
General  Corse's  forces  defending  Allatoona  Pass,  first  demanding 
its  surrender.  This  demand  being  refused  by  General  Corse,  a  divis- 
ion of  the  enemy  under  General  French  assaults  our  forces  and  is 
defeated  with  loss  of  over  1,000  men.  After  repeated  efforts  to 
carry  the  works  by  storm,  and  our  near  approach  with  reinforcements 
together  with  the  severe  punishment  they  receive  at  the  hands  of 
the  little  garrison,  the  enemy  is  compelled  to  abandon  the  fight. 
We  arrive  at  the  battlefield  soon  after  the  rebels  retired  and  find 
the  grounds  fronting  the  Union  defenses  give  bloody  evidence  of 
the  bravery  of  both  rebel  and  Union  forces  engaged.  All  their  dead 
and  many  of  their  wounded  are  left  in  our  hands  and  are  cared  for 
by  our  forces.  While  passing  through  the  hospitals  we  are  shown 
two  female  soldiers  who  have  donned  male  attire,  serving  in  the 
Confederate  ranks.  Adjoining  this  hospital  we  pass  a  trench  wherein 
is  deposited  an  assortment  of  legs,  arms,  fingers  and  feet.  Passing 
over  the  battlefield  we  find  half  hidden  in  bushes  a  Confederate 

127 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

soldier  leaning  against  a  log  with  his  head  resting  forward  on  his 
breast.  Supposing  he  was  wounded  and  had  been  overlooked  by  the 
hospital  force  we  approached  and  inquired  if  he  was  badly  hurt. 
On  failing  to  get  a  reply  we  make  further  investigation  and  find 
him  dead  with  a  bullet  wound  near  his  eye,  appearance  indicating 
that  he  had  lived  for  some  time  after  receiving  the  fatal  wound. 
A  letter  found  in  his  pocket  written  by  his  girl  in  Mississippi  ex- 
presses a  hope  that  the  "Yanks  will  soon  be  licked."  The  body  may 
have  been  placed  in  this  position  by  some  of  our  hospital  forces- 
These  ghastfy  tricks  are  sometimes  indulged  in  by  soldiers  who  have 
become  so  accustomed  to  seeing  dead  on  every  hand  that  little  at- 
tention is  given  them,  and  more  especially  when  the  dead  belong 
to  the  enemy. 

During  the  heat  of  this  engagement  General  Corse  receives  a 
severe  wound  in  his  jaw  which  carries  away  a  portion  of  his  ear, 
yet  he  remains  on  the  job  until  it  is  finished. 

While  we  are  on  this  double  quick  movement  to  reinforce  the 
garrison  here,  Sherman  from  the  summit  of  Kenesaw  mountain 
signals  Corse  to  "hold  the  fort,  we  are  coming."  On  Sherman's 
arrival  at  Allatoona  he  congratulates  Corse  for  so  bravely  holding 
his  position.  Then  noticing  Corse's  sore  head,  Sherman  expresses 
his  comforting  sympathy  by  saying,  "Why,  Corse,  they  come  d — d 
fiear  missing  you,  didn't  they?" 

October  4,  before  leaving  Decatur,  Tobias  Gushard,  of  Marl- 
boro township,  is  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Atlanta,  returning  to 
the  company  for  duty  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  November  8,  follow- 
ing. After  thirty-three  months'  service  he  is  mustered  out  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  Now  one  of  the  13  survivors  of  the  com- 
pany. 


ALLATOONA,  GEORGIA. 


Allatoona,  Ga.,  is  a  station  on  the  raidroad,  now  used  as  a  base 
of  supplies.  Stacks  of  army  supplies  of  all  kinds  are  stored  here 
and  is  the  attraction  that  moved  the  rebel  general  to  attempt  its 
capture.  A  portion  of  these  supplies  have  evidently  been  in  store 
a  considerable  time  for  when  we  draw  rations  the  crackers  are  found 
to  be  inhabited  with  large  healthy  looking  worms.  In  fact  these 
crackers  are  unfit  to  eat  until  they  are  split  open  and  the  worms  and 
dust  shaken  out.  Before  this  discovery  is  made  a  number  of  the 
boys  indulge  in  worm  sandwiches.  Ritchey  says  if  the  worms  don't 
want  to  be  "et"  let  them  stay  out  of  the  crackers.  "Anyway,"  he 
says,  "they  are  nice  clean  looking  worms  that  wont  hurt  any- 
body." 

On  October  9  we  are  again  on  the  move,  continuing  on  with  but 
little  rest  throughout  the  day  and  portion  of  the  night.  On  October 
10  we  are  supposed  to  be  close  on  the  heels  of  Hood's  army  while 
our  cavalry  is  keeping  his  rear  guard  busy.  This  march  is  continued 
to  Somerville,  Ga.,  where  we  go  into  camp. 

128 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 
SOMERVILLE,  GEORGIA. 


Smitty  is  despairing.  He  declares  there  is  nothing  to  hinder 
the  rebels  from  marching  north  to  the  Ohio  river.  The  boys  are  all 
discouraged  but  not  because  of  Smitty's  gloom,  yet  his  forebodings 
of  disaster  is  not  pleasant  to  hear  and  cannot  help  the  situation. 
Smitty  never  waits  for  trouble,  he  seems  to  enjoy  having  a  supply 
of  this  on  hand,  and  to  pass  it  out  among  his  comrades  gives  him 
additional  enjoyment.  He  is  a  number  one  soldier  but  as  an  en- 
tertainer he  remains  at  the  foot  of  the  class. 

It  is  sometimes  interesting  even  to  the  tired  and  war-worn  sol- 
dier while  we  go  marching  on  to  note  the  patient  and  solemn  frame 
of  mind  that  seems  to  prevail  in  the  ranks.  Your  comrades  are 
silently  and  uncomplainingly  enduring  torture  of  aching  shoulders 
and  limbs,  blistered  feet  and  at  times  almost  maddening  thirst  for 
water.  Words  are  not  needed  to  convey  to  each  other  the  longing 
for  peace  and  rest  and  end  to  the  war.  We  have  once  marched  and 
fought  over  these  grounds  and  it  now  seems  that  the  task  is  more 
difficult  and  must  be  repeated.  While  these  thoughts  and  pains  are 
running  through  our  systems  we  must  bear  the  additional  burden  of 
listening  to  boys  who  never  tire  and  can't  be  worn  out.  They  are 
indestructible. 


ROME,  GEORGIA. 


On  October  11  and  12  our  march  is  continued,  passing  through 
Kinston,  and  on  to  Rome,  Ga.,  where  we  camp.  On  October  13  we 
cross  Coosa  river  and  go  out  on  a  scout  and  after  a  short  march 
surprise  and  capture  a  scouting  party  of  rebels  and  return  to  camp 
with  thirty  prisoners  and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  On  October  14 
we  start  out  at  the  usual  early  hour  and  after  an  all  day's  march 
bivouac  for  the  night. 

On  the  following  day  rations  are  issued  when  we  start  out  at 
breakneck  speed  passing  through  Resaca  and  Calhoun,  Ga.,  and  go 
into  camp  after  a  march  of  about  twenty  miles.  Supper  is  prepared 
from  the  following  bill  of  fare  and  everything  is  eaten  up  clean 
except  the  candles  and  kinnikinick: 

Hardtack  and  black  coffee 

Hardtack,  parboiled,  and  coffee 

Hardtack,  scrambled,  and  coffee 

Hardtack  toasted,  and  coffee 

Hardtack  and   coffee   soup 

Hardtack  and  bacon 

Sou-Beleigh 

Second  course 

Dessiccated  Vegetables 

Dessert 

Wind  Pudding 

129 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

Dessiccated  vegetables  is  a  new  combination  of  feed  tried  out 
on  the  soldier  and  highly  recommended  by  the  army  contractor  as  a 
means  to  balance  up  the  army  ration  and  said  to  be  quite  palatable; 
a  condensed  vegetable  ration  to  be  used  in  time  of  emergency.  It  is 
soon  found  that  the  greater  the  emergency  the  more  palatable  this 
ration  becomes.  Ritchey  declares  it  is  made  from  corn  in  the  shock. 
An  analysis  of  this  mysterious  mixture  under  the  naked  eye  dis- 
closed to  view  the  secret  of  the  enterprising  contractor  and  reveals 
a  mixture  of  green  peas  and  beans  in  the  pod,  pumpkin,  turnips, 
carrots,  corn  and  other  ingredients  including  a  trace  of  flies.  This 
feed  is  prepared  by  being  coarsely  ground  and  pressed  into  cakes 
resembling  pumice  from  a  cider  press  then  stacked  up  in  a  kiln  to  dry 
out.  It  shows  such  wonderful  power  of  expansion  that  on  the  first 
try-out  camp  kettles  were  in  demand  to  hold  the  overflow  but  camp 
kettles  finally  give  out  when  the  overflow  must  be  stacked  out  on 
the  grass.  In  fact  a  half  pound  of  this  "roughness"  when  cooked 
will  make  as  much  slop  as  two  men  can  eat  and  becomes  known  in 
army  circles  as  "desecrated"  vegetables  or  kinnikinick.  After  all, 
this  evaporated  silage  is  relished  as  an  occasional  change  after  long 
diet  on  bacon  and  hardtack  but  it  is  lacking  the  quality  of  giving 
much  nourishment  and  does  not  become  popular  with  the  boys  any 
more  than  does  the  wind  pudding  dished  up  by  the  oracles  every  day 
without  fail. 

October  16  finds  us  on  the  march  at  an  early  hour.  Passing 
through  Snake  Creep  Gap,  a  march  of  sixteen  miles  is  made  when  we 
bivouac  for  the  night.  October  17  we  fall  in  at  the  usual  early  hour 
when  the  order  to  march  is  countermanded  and  we  settle  down  for 
the  day.  The  weather  is  pleasant  and  the  quartermaster  issues  three 
day's  ration  of  coffee,  crackers,  bacon,  sugar  and  kinnekinick.  On 
October  18  we  continue  the  march  and  quantities  of  "kinnikinick"  is 
seen  scattered  over  the  camp  grounds  as  we  file  on  the  road.  We 
soon  hear  distant  cannonading  and  our  speed  is  increased  in  the 
direction  of  this  noise  until  we  cover  a  distance  of  sixteen  miles 
and  again  bivouac,  following  this  with  a  fifteen  mile  march  and  on 
October  19  we  camp  late  at  night  near  Gaylesville,  Ala. 


GAYLESVILLE,  ALABAMA. 


Soon  after  turning  in  for  the  night  and  when  on  the  point  of 
passing  off  into  peaceful  slumber  a  feint  voice  of  a  crowing  rooster 
is  heard.  Being  an  interested  listener  I  crawl  out  of  the  tent  and 
wait  for  a  second  call  of  the  fowl.  This  soon  comes  and  without 
waiting  orders,  a  bee  line  is  followed  in  the  direction  of  dim  outlines 
of  buildings  seen  in  the  distance  and  I  soon  arrive  at  the  place  where 
the  rooster  betrayed  the  flock.  Judge  of  my  surprise  and  disap- 
pointment when  it  is  found  that  a  score  or  more  of  others  had  ans- 
wered the  same  call  and  left  only  a  quantity  of  scattering  feathers, 

130 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

while  squalling  poultry  is  heard  from  all  directions  leading  to  our 
camping  grounds.  Much  disgusted  at  this  wanton  robbery  I  turn 
away  feeling  that  every  one  of  these  boys  should  be  courtmar- 
tialed. 

On  October  20  we  continue  our  march  now  at  a  lively  gait  with- 
out stopping  at  the  noon  hour,  eating  our  crackers  and  bacon  on  the 
wing  as  reports  reach  us  that  the  rebels  are  five  hours  march  ahead. 
Late  at  night  we  go  in  camp,  fry  our  bacon,  make  coffee,  put  some 
dessicated  vegetables  to  soak  and  go  to  bed. 

It  seems  that  during  this  time  we  have  been  trying  to  head  off 
the  rebels.  They  have  torn  up  many  miles  of  railroad  and  Fritz 
declares  that  "this  whole  summer  of  toil  and  strife  has  come  to 
naught,"  and  Sherman  receives  more  long  range  criticism,  while 
Yonie  agrees  with  Fritz,  yet  he  declares  that  the  latter  has  more 
wind  than  wisdom.  Then  the  boys  all  laugh  except  Fritz.  But 
Yonie  is  envious.  If  any  new  opinions  or  theories  are  to  be  produced 
in  the  ranks  Yonie  insists  on  being  the  producer.  How  little  we 
know  about  military  strategy  is  revealed  in  the  ranks  every  day,  yet 
Company  "B"  has  its  full  quota  of  military  experts.  Perhaps  they 
are  the  eccentrics  in  this  great  structure  of  military  machinery  and 
serve  some  purpose  aside  from  their  dutiful  service  in  the  ranks. 

In  blind  obedience  to  orders  this  great  machine  moves  from 
camp  to  camp  and  from  bivouac  to  battlefield  we  know  not  where 
or  for  what  purpose  or  in  which  direction.  We  know  that  this 
machine  is  operated  by  an  engineer  trained  in  military  tactics  who 
is  supposed  to  be  in  possession  of  information  showing  the  enemy 
position,  with  maps  showing  roads,  hills,  streams,  etc.,  over  which 
we  are  expected  to  travel.  Scouts  and  spies  inform  the  commander 
of  the  weak  and  strong  points  in  the  enemy  position,  and  his 
strength.  Possessed  with  this  information  the  commander  distrib- 
utes his  forces  for  attack  at  a  certain  time  or  given  signal.  He 
cannot  be  present  on  all  parts  of  the  field  of  action  or  personally 
direct  movements  at  all  points.  Officers  under  the  commander  must 
exercise  judgment  in  carrying  out  minor  details.  Then  success  de- 
pends upon  the  fighting  and  staying  quality  of  the  man  under  a 
musket,  who  through  toil  and  strife  performs  the  work,  winner  of 
the  commander's  victories  and  stars  and  victim  of  his  mistakes  or 
inefficiency. 

We  remain  in  this  camp  until  October  25.  In  the  meantime  we 
wash  up,  clean  up  and  line  up  for  Sunday  inspection;  also  do  a  little 
foraging,  paying  friendly  (?)  visits  to  neighboring  plantations  where 
we  are  not  received  with  open  arms.  On  the  contrary  we  are  fav- 
ored with  vollies  of  uncomplimentary  remarks  and  in  such  plain 
terms  it  is  not  difficult  to  understand  that  the  fair  ladies  of  Dixie 
do  not  love  Yanks.  But  we  help  ourselves.  Many  good  things  would 
be  missed  should  we  wait  for  an  invitation  to  partake.  While  in  this 
camp  the  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  pass  along  near  our 

131 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

camping  grounds.  On  the  above  named  date  we  continue  the  march  to 
CEDAR  BLUFFS,  ALABAMA 

and  bivouac  for  the  night.  October  27,  we  march  to  Center,  Alabama, 
county  seat  of  Cherokee  county,  then  retrace  our  steps  and  after  an 
all  day  march  return  to  Cedar  Bluffs  and  go  into  camp.  October 
28  we  cross  the  Coosa  river  and  continue  on  to  Cave  Springs,  Ga., 
making  a  march  of  21  miles,  arriving  here  October  29.  On  October 
30,  we  are  hustled  out  before  daylight  and  keep  up  a  lively  march, 
passing  through  Rome,  Ga.,  and  after  a  march  of  about  twenty  miles, 
a  lot  of  tired  boys  are  permitted  to  lie  down  for  a  night's  rest.  We 
are  on  the  road  at  the  usual  early  hour  on  the  following  morning 
and  after  a  march  of  sixteen  miles  arrive  at  Calhoun,  Ga.,  and  go 
into  camp.  During  this  stretch  of  hard  marching  all  are  puzzled  to 
know  whether  we  are  after  the  Johnnies,  or  they  after  us.  But  the 
puzzling  situation  has  not  awakened  much  argument  or  noise  from 
the  oracles  who  seem  to  be  usually  quiet.  Silence  is  restful  and  gives 
time  for  meditation.  Fowler  threatens  bodily  harm  to  Ritchey  if  the 
latter  undertakes  to  start  an  argument.  Our  strategists  are  taking 
mental  notes  and  will  discuss  the  situation  as  soon  as  they  get  their 
second  wind.  Because  all  are  ignorant  of  the  purpose  of  these  whip- 
lashing  movements  and  hard  marches  we  feel  in  a  despairing  mood 
for  it  appears  that  this  whole  summer's  toil  and  strife  has  accom- 
plished nothing  that  promises  an  early  end  to  the  war.  We  are  war 
worn  and  cross  and  the  few  feeble  efforts  made  by  our  "indestruct- 
ibles"  to  argue  the  case  are  met  by  groans  and  threats  from  boys  in 
the  ranks. 

Our  army  is  now  divided  leaving  portions  of  the  Twenty-Third 
and  Fourth  Corps  under  command  of  "Pap"  Thomas  to  bat- 
tle Hood  with  his  Confederate  army  should  the  latter  attempt  to  con- 
tinue a  northern  raid,  while  Sherman  with  the  army  of  the  Tennessee 
and  Cumberland,  numbering  about  sixty  thousand  man  start  south- 
ward on  a  raid  that  ends  in  his  famous  march  to  the  sea  at  Savannah, 
Ga.,  and  on  to  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  severing  the  Confederacy  in  twain. 

When  this  new  movement  becomes  known  in  the  ranks  our  ora- 
cles are  dumfounded  and  panicky  and  hold  a  council  of  war  with 
Smitty  as  the  principle  orator.  He  declares  that  Sherman  is  fitting 
himself  for  the  insane  asylum.  "The  general  is  deserting  us,  taking 
with  him  two-thirds  of  the  army  leaving  us  to  be  sacrificed,  slaugh- 
tered or  imprisoned,  for  he  has  left  but  about  twenty-five  thousand 
men  to  battle  Hood  with  his  army  of  over  fifty  thousand;  we  are 
goners,  sure,"  and  disaster  again  looms  up  before  Smitty,  but  Ritchey 
cannot  persuade  the  panicky  boys  to  visit  Sherman's  tent  with  words 
of  warning  against  his  ill  advised  and  perilous  movement.  Here  we 
are  over  seventy-five  miles  north  of  Atlanta  and  not  far  from  the 

132 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

starting  point  of  the  Georgia  campaign  of  last  April.  The  situation 
is  indeed  puzzling  and  discouraging.  It  seems  that  we  are  doomed  to 
serve  entire  term  of  enlistment  and  if  Nick's  interpretation  of  the 
terms  under  which  we  enlisted  is  correct  we  may  end  our  days  in 
military  service,  much  to  the  delight  of  Ritchey.  Since  leaving  At- 
lanta Sherman  and  Hood  have  been  playing  a  game  of  checkers,  each 
kept  busy  laying  and  avoiding  traps  set  by  his  adversary.  We  hear 
that  rebel  cavalry  under  General  Forest  has  made  a  raid  in  the  rear 
of  our  army  and  destroyed  over  a  million  dollars  worth  of  army  sup- 
plies. We  are  also  informed  that  General  A.  J.  Smith  with  a  portion 
of  the  Sixteenth  Corps  is  on  his  way  from  some  western  point  to  re- 
inforce us  and  that  other  troops  on  duty  in  blockhouses,  guarding 
brigades  and  railroads  will  be  added  to  our  force,  but  can  they  reach 
us  in  time  is  the  question  discussed  in  the  ranks,  for  the  rebel  army 
is  reinforced  and  now  located  in  northern  Alabama  and  within  a  few 
days'  march  of  our  position. 

During  these  marches  through  Georgia  and  Alabama  we  are 
sometimes  assailed  with  bitter  denunciations  by  fair  ladies  of  Dixie 
who  recite  their  grievances  and  express  their  opinion  of  Yankees  so 
very  plain  that  even  a  half  witted  Yank  can  easily  catch  on.  "Lincoln 
hirelings,  scum  of  the  earth,  thieves,  etc.,  etc.,  are  among  the  choice 
epithets  they  hand  out.  But  we  enjoy  the  entertainment,  if  not  the 
sentiment.  The  ladies  have  the  floor  and  we  do  not  interfere  except 
with  occasional  smiles  and  admiring  glances  and  these  attentions  add 
fuel  to  their  flaming  wrath.  One  old  lady  lamenting  over  the  loss  of 
property  is  said  to  have  complained  that  "Captain  Sherman's  critter 
soldiers,  (cavalry)  rid  through  my  garding,  knocking  off  pickets  and 
upset  my  ash  hopper."  While  marching  near  Gaylesville,  Alabama, 
two  young  ladies  standing  at  a  gate  fronting  a  fine  old  plantation 
mansion  open  out  in  chorus  with  a  wonderful  flow  of  language  and 
address  us  in  every  way  except  endearing  terms.  They  freely  ex- 
press their  opinion  of  Yanks  and  seem  delighted  with  the  opportun- 
ity. They  are  such  sweet  looking  girls  that  we  cannot  take  offense 
and  the  temptation  to  bestow  smiles  and  admiring  glances  is  irresist- 
ible. Ritchey,  the  scamp,  places  a  hand  to  his  ear  fearing  he  may 
miss  something.  The  girls  afford  entertainment  to  the  entire  line  as 
it  passes  in  review  before  them.  We  have  been  warned  by  officers  to 
make  no  reply  to  these  attacks,  so  the  girls  are  given  the  satisfaction 
of  having  the  last  word  and  no  doubt  retire  much  relieved. 

As  we  pass  along  wild  eyed  pickaninnies  are  seen  peeking  through 
fences,  from  corners  of  cabins  and  other  hiding  places.  Scantily  clad 
and  all  shades  of  color  from  ebony  to  dark  mahogany  and  chestnut 
sorrel  gradually  fading  down  to  pale  buff.  And  the  bleaching  out 
continues  as  generations  come  and  go. 

November  1,  our  march  is  continued  a  distance  of  about  twelve 
miles,  passing  through  Resaca  near  our  old  battle  ground  of  last  May, 
and  go  in  camp  on  the  railroad  near  Tilton,  Ga.  At  noon  on  the 
following  day  we  move  northward  marching  on  the  railroad  track 

133 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

to  Dalton,  Ga.,  a  distance  of  about  nine  miles.  Recent  rains  has  left 
the  roads  in  such  bad  condition  that  our  commander  concluded  to  try 
track  marching  today.  While  this  seemed  a  little  better  than  mud- 
wading  the  march  stiffens  our  joints  until  it  is  painful  getting  out 
to  roll  call  on  the  following  morning.  Here  we  remain  in  camp  ex- 
posed to  cold  chilling  rains  until  Sunday  afternoon.  November  6, 
when  our  forces  board  freight  trains  crowding  both  the  inside  and 
tops  of  cars  and  amid  shouts  from  the  boys  and  showers  from  clouds 
the  engine  bear  us  northward  while  the  rains  continue.  Night  com- 
ing on  we  on  the  "hurricane  decks"  make  details  of  a  few  as  guards 
to  prevent  sleepers  from  falling  out  of  bed(?)  and  off  the  cars,  thus 
sleeping  by  reliefs  during  the  night.  A  few  boys  remove  their  gun 
straps  and  tie  themselves  to  the  running  board.  We  pass  through 
Chattanooga  about  2  A.  M.  and  during  the  following  day  arrive  at 
Nashville,  Tenn. 

After  leaving  Chattanooga  the  weather  turns  colder  and  we  on 
the  upper  decks  are  thoroughly  chilled  and  soaked  when  our  desti- 
nation is  reached.  Fires  are  soon  started  and  all  are  made  a  little 
more  comfortable.  This  is  election  day  and  about  one-half  our  com- 
pany now  cast  their  first  vote  for  president  and  nearly  all  their  bal- 
lots are  cast  for  that  greatest  American,  Abraham  Lincoln.  The 
strength  of  our  regiment  now  on  duty  as  shown  by  the  number  of 
ballots  cast  is  three  hundred  and  forty  three,  including  recruits.  Lin- 
coln receives  three  hundred  and  thirty  and  McClellan  thirteen  votes. 
During  this  trip  to  Nashville  we  experience  a  thrilling  sensation 
while  passing  over  frail  looking  bridges  crossing  the  Tennessee  river 
and  other  streams.  This  sensation  is  anything  but  pleasing  for  the 
vibrating  of  these  bridges  is  plainly  noticed  as  our  heavily  loaded 
trains  pass  over  them,  one  of  which  is  said  to  be  one  hundred  and 
seven  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  stream. 


134 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


NASHVILLE,  TENN.,  TO  CLIFFTON,  TENN. 


On  November  9,  we  again  board  a  freight  train  and  go  south  to 
Spring  Hill,  Tenn.,  and  camp.  On  the  tenth  we  remain  here  drying 
our  clothing,  tents  and  blankets,  all  of  which  were  well  soaked  dur- 
ing our  trip  on  the  cars  from  Georgia,  weather  clear  and  warmer. 
On  November  twelfth  we  march  southward  on  a  scout  to  Columbia, 
Tenn.,  then  about  face  and  return  to  Spring  Hill  and  go  into  camp. 
On  November  thirteenth  we  again  march  southward  and  go  into  camp 
on  the  banks  of  Duck  river  near  Columbia.  Our  march  is  continued 
on  the  following  morning  a  distance  of  about  18  miles  and  bivouac 
for  the  night  at  Lynnville,  Tenn.,  then  another  march  of  about  ten 
miles  and  go  into  camp  at  Pulaska,  Tenn. 


PULASKA,  TENNESSEE 


Here  we  settle  down  to  regular  housekeeping  until  November  22. 
Meanwhile  we  draw  several  showers,  winding  up  with  a  snow  storm 
accompanied  by  a  piercing  northwester.  While  the  storm  lasts  we 
protect  ourselves  from  these  blasts  by  turning  our  backs  to  the  wind 
and  snow  and  when  not  on  other  duty  find  warmth  while  carrying  rails 
and  standing  about  our  fires.  In  a  few  of  the  pup  tents  soldiers  are 
seen  piled  up  like  pigs  in  a  straw  stack,  but  they  haven't  the  straw; 
if  they  had  they  would  be  more  comfortable.  It  is  somewhat  burden- 
some for  the  fellow  on  the  underside  but  he  makes  no  complaint,  he 
is  keeping  warm  and  patiently  endures  the  punishment.  Ritchey  de- 
clares this  is  much  better  than  the  hot  marches  through  Georgia, 
because  we  are  rid  of  flies,  ticks  and  mosquitoes,  deserted  by  all  our 
pests  except  the  old  reliable  gray  back  that  is  always  found  on  duty. 
Boys  are  lamenting  because  Uncle  Billy  didn't  take  us  with  him 
down  through  the  warm  sunny  south  where  we  might  march  along  by 
easy  stages  and  live  on  the  fat  of  the  land.  But  little  fighting  to  do 
and  just  enough  exercise  to  keep  one's  joints  limbered  up. 

Quoting  from  Sherman's  Memoirs,  he  says:  "The  cattle  trains 
are  getting  so  large  that  we  find  difficulty  in  driving  them  along. 
Thanksgiving  day  was  generally  observed  by  the  troops,  the  army 
scorning  chicken  in  the  plentitude  of  turkey  with  which  they  sup- 
ply themselves.  Vegetables  of  all  kinds  and  in  unlimited  quan- 
tities, were  at  hand,  and  the  soldiers  gave  thanks,  as  soldiers  may 
and  were  merry  as  soldiers  may  be.  In  truth,  so  far  as  the  grati- 
fication of  the  stomach  goes,  the  troops  are  pursuing  a  continu- 
ous Thanksgiving." 

135 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

Our  scouts  report  that  Hood's  army  is  now  encamped  in  northern 
Alabama  preparing  to  raid  Tennessee  and  possibly  Kentucky  and 
Ohio,  while  Sherman  with  his  army  of  sixty  thousand  men  is  well  on 
his  way  into  the  interior  of  the  panic  stricken  Confederacy  and 
lost  to  all  the  world  except  the  enemy.  Instead  of  following  Sher- 
man, Hood  with  his  reinforced  army  is  heading  northward  with  a 
force  of  about  55,000  men,  and  this  looks  like  business  for  "wc'nns" 
and  brings  forth  criticisms  of  Sherman's  generalship  from  our  brig- 
adier muskateer  who  sees  disaster  ahead  and  starts  an  argument.  We 
are  almost  ready  to  agree  with  them.  They  again  remind  us  that 
Sherman  has  left  but  about  thirty  thousand  infantry  and  cavalry  to 
battle  Hood's  forces  of  about  double  our  number,  for  we  now  have 
but  a  portion  of  Twenty  Third  and  Fourth  Corps  with  fragments  of 
other  troops  picked  up  from  railroad  guards,  block  houses  and  bridges 
scattered  along  the  way.  The  outlook  is  rather  gloomy  and  we  are 
inclined  to  think  that,  perhaps,  Smitty  and  Fritz  may  be  wiser  than 
they  look.  On  November  22,  we  receive  marching  orders  and  fall 
back  to  Linnville,  Tenn.,  where  we  camp  after  a  hard  day's  march 
through  mud.  The  weather  is  so  miserably  bad  that  many  spend 
most  of  the  night  standing  or  sitting  around  camp  fires  and  little  at- 
tempt is  made  to  lie  down  to  sleep.  Seely  says:  "Foxes  have  holes 
and  birds  of  the  air  have  nests,  but  us  poor  sons  of  Uncle  Sam,  have 
not  where  to  lay  our  heads." 

At  three  o'clock  on  the  following  morning  we  fall  in  line  for  an- 
other movement  but  this  is  postponed  until  afternoon  when  we  start 
on  a  forced  march  of  about  ten  miles  and,  as  usual,  put  in  a  good 
portion  of  the  night  standing  about  our  fires.  On  November  24,  we 
are  called  out  before  daylight  and  without  breakfast  we  are  making 
good  time  over  sloppy  roads,  eating  crackers  and  raw  bacon  in  the 
meantime,  as  word  passes  along  the  line  that  the  enemy  is  making  an 
effort  to  get  in  our  rear.  This  information  works  like  magic  in  lim- 
bering up  stiffened  joints  and  awakens  such  a  strong  desire  not  to  be 
trapped  that  a  portion  of  this  march  is  made  on  a  dead  run.  Top 
speed  is  kept  up  until  we  are  winded  when  we  slow  down  to  double 
quick  step.  The  rattle  of  canteens,  frying  pans  and  other  equipment 
almost  drowns  the  voices  of  our  oracles  who  again  remind  us  that 
"I  told  you  so."  The  crack  of  musketry  is  heard  on  another  road 
leading  to  Columbia  when  we  let  on  more  steam  and  the  halt,  the 
weary  and  hungry  forget  their  troubles  and  head  off  the  enemy  in 
time  to  see  our  cavalry  falling  back  before  the  advancing  rebel  force. 
Before  entering  the  village  of  Columbia  our  regiment  and  the  One 
Hundredth  Ohio  are  quickly  deployed  on  the  skirmish  line  and  soon 
meet  the  enemy  when  a  brisk  fire  is  kept  up  through  the  remainder 
of  the  day  and  until  after  dark.  Meanwhile  our  main  forces  are  tak- 
ing a  position  in  our  rear.  On  the  morning  of  November  25,  we  are 
relieved  of  picket  duty  and  retire  to  the  command.  On  November 
26,  brisk  firing  is  kept  up  on  the  skirmish  line  with  cannonading  in  the 
afternoon,  the  enemy  gradually  driving  our  skirmish  line  back  until 

136 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

flight  when  under  cover  of  darkness  our  forces  fall  back  across  the 
river  and  take  a  position  on  a  hill  with  our  division  in  reserve.  Hood 
with  hiis  entire  army  is  now  on  our  trail  with  a  force  doubling  ours 
in  number.  The  situation  seems  alarming  and  good  generalship  is 
now  in  demand  to  save  the  army  from  capture  or  destruction.  We 
are  getting  plenty  of  hard  usage  every  day  without  adding  the  tor- 
tures of  rebel  prisons. 

Smitty  now  admits  that  he  has  outgeneraled  Sherman  and  pro- 
motes himself  to  major  general.  He  says  operations  in  the  field  have 
resulted  just  as  he  expected  whera  we  left  Atlanta  in  pursuit  of  the 
rebel  army.  Yes,  visions  of  diseaster  again  loom  up  before  Smitty 
and  Sherman  receives  another  installment  of  long  range  criticism. 
Our  hope  now  rests  in  "Pap"  Thomas,  the  "Rock  of  Chickamauga," 
to  get  us  out  of  this  scrape. 

Sunday,  November  27,  we  remain  in  our  position  and  receive  a 
severe  shelling  with  an  occasional  solid  shot  from  rebel  batteries 
located  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  but  without  serious  damage, 
On  November  28,  we  move  out  nearer  the  river  and  build  fortifica- 
tions to  protect  the  bridge.  Meanwhile  considerable  firing  is  heard 
where  the  enemy  is  attempting  to  turn  our  flanks.  In  the  evening 
the  enemy  attempts  to  cross  the  bridge  in  our  front  but  is  driven 
back.  On  November  29,  the  enemy  opens  out  with  batteries  and  keeps 
up  a  steady  fire  all  day  for  the  purpose,  no  doubt,  of  drawing  our  at- 
tention from  his  flank  movements.  During  this  storm  of  shot  and 
shell  we  lie  quietly  in  our  works  with  guns  capped  and  bayoneted  in 
readiness  but  do  it  return  fire,  and  lose  twelve  men  in  the  reg- 
iment killed  and  wounded  by  exploding  shell.  Thus  we  put  in  the 
day  to  resist  an  attack  the  enemy  probably  had  no  intention  of  mak- 
ing for  he  is  more  interested  in  capturing  us  bodily,  and  placing 
forces  in  position  for  this  purpose. 

As  soon  as  darkness  sets  in  we  quietly  evacuate  our  works  and 
retreat  on  the  Franklin  pike.  While  on  this  march  and  near  Spring- 
hill  camp  fires  are  seen  both  on  our  right  and  left,  apparently  less 
than  a  half  mile  distant.  We  are  informed  that  these  fires  show  the 
location  of  both  wings  of  the  rebel  army  that  has  placed  itself  in  our 
rear  and  by  reason  of  some  oversight  of  the  rebel  commander  he  fails 
to  close  the  gap  through  which  we  are  making  our  escape.  So  near 
are  they  that  rebel  soldiers  are  plainly  seen  walking  about  the  camp 
fires.  Our  officers  warn  us  against  loud  talking  and  unnecssary 
noises.  We  hold  our  breath,  muzzle  the  oracles  and  make  our  escape 
between  these  two  jaws  of  the  enemy,  completing  this  night's  march 
of  about  twenty  miles  reaching  Franklin,  Tenn.,  at  daylight  on  the 
morning  of  November  30. 


137 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 
FRANKLIN,  TENNESSEE 


After  a  short  rest  and  a  shorter  breakfast  of  cold  lunch  we  begin 
active  work  building  fortifications.  Shovels,  axes  and  picks  are  kept 
busy  as  the  dirt  flies.  It  is  plainly  seen  that  we  cannot  get  away  from 
the  enemy  which  leaves  us  no  choice  between  a  fight  or  a  foot  race, 
so  it's  a  fight  or  prison,  perhaps  both.  Every  man  on  the  line  is  ex- 
pected to  hold  two  of  the  enemy  at  bay  or  get  licked  for  our  promised 
reinforcements  have  not  reached  us.  It  seems  that  soon  after  leaving 
Springhill  the  enemy  discovered  our  escape  and  sent  cavalry  on  our 
trail  crowding  us  so  closely  that  we  were  lined  up  to  give  bat- 
tle in  the  open  but  they  did  not  attack  and  our  march  was  continued. 

When  our  defenses  are  completed  at  Franklin  they  form  a  semi- 
circle facing  southward  with  flanks  resting  on  the  Harpeth  river  and 
within  this  enclosure  rests  our  army  and  the  village.  While  this 
work  is  under  way  our  supply  trains  are  crossing  the  river  and  mov- 
ing in  the  direction  of  Nashville.  About  noon  reports  reach  us  that 
rebel  cavalry  is  attempting  to  cross  the  river  on  our  flanks  and  is 
held  back  by  our  cavalry  under  General  Wilson.  The  position  of 
our  regiment  is  on  the  front  line  with  our  company  near  the  cotton 
gin.  About  four  o'clock  the  enemy  is  seen  forming  lines  directly  in 
our  front  and  the  tug  of  war  seems  close  at  hand.  For  the  first  time 
since  the  beginning  of  the  campaign  we  are  fighting  on  the  defensive 
and  occupy  the  favorite  side  of  the  fortification,  hoping  to  even  up 
matters  for  the  trap  we  were  lured  into  at  Utoy  Creek,  Ga.  With  a 
clear  open  field  fronting  us  with  no  obstruction  in  the  way  except 
two  brigades  of  the  Fourth  Corps  placed  there  to  watch  the  enemy 
movements,  and  who  through  some  mistake  or  violation  of  orders 
fail  to  fall  back  until  the  enemy  is  almost  upon  them. 

About  4  o'clock  rebel  artillery  begin  throwing  shot  and  shell  at 
our  works,  many  passing  over  our  heads  and  landing  in  or  beyond  the 
village,  while  rebel  infantry  is  advancing  in  massed  columns  with 
colors  flying  and  bugles  sounding,  with  one  massed  portion  of  forces 
directing  its  course  toward  the  cotton  gin  building  where  we  are  lo- 
cated. Meanwhile  the  enemy  is  closing  gaps  in  line  made  by  charges 
from  our  artillery  located  on  the  heights  north  of  the  village  and 
river.  On  the  rebel  columns  come  as  though  marching  out  on  dress 
parade  until  nearing  our  advanced  line  when  the  latter  fire  one  volley 
into  the  enemy.  The  enemy  bugles  sound  the  charge  and  our  two 
brigades  of  the  Fourth  now  overwhelmed  in  number  give  way  and  all 
break  into  a  run  with  the  yelling  rebels  closely  following.  When 
these  retreating  forces  reach  our  line  the  howling  enemy  is  close 
upon  their  heels  and  our  men  come  pell-mell  over  our  works  and 
through  the  opening  at  the  pike.  As  these  men  come  over  we  fire  our 
first  volley  into  a  solid  mass  of  the  enemy  when  a  sheet  of  flame 
belches  from  muskets  and  charges  of  grape  and  cannister  from  our 
artillery  checked  the  rebel  advance,  leaving  the  grounds  fronting  us 
strown  with  dead  and  wonded.  Many  of  these  retreating  Union 

138 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

forces  now  take  refuge  in  our  works  from  where  they  are  ordered 
back  for  we  are  too  much  crowded  to  do  effective  work.  This  order 
throws  the  line  in  confusion,  some  taking  this  for  an  order  to  abandon 
the  position.  In  the  meantime  the  enemy  rallies  forces  and  with  sup- 
porting columns  now  make  a  second  assault,  mounting  the  works  and 
pour  a  volley  of  musketry  upon  our  heads  while  others  rush  like  an 
avalanche  through  the  opening  of  our  defense  at  the  pike,  turning  our 
flank  and  penetrating  our  lines  at  this  point.  The  enemy  onslaught 
with  overpowering  numbers  drives  our  company  and  three  others, 
also  a  portion  of  the  regiment  on  our  right,  from  the  works,  captur- 
ing a  battery  and  many  prisoners.  The  enemy  now  holds  a  por- 
tion of  the  line  while  we  who  are  driven  from  our  defenses  find 
refuge  in  our  second  line  of  defense  and  behind  the  cotton  gin. 
The  enemy  now  form  lines  and  advance  upon  our  second  line  when 
General  Cox  orders  our  supports  forward  in  a  counter  charge  and 
the  enemy  is  met  by  this  reserve  force  and  men  who  have  rallied 
after  being  forced  from  position  at  the  second  assault.  The  murder- 
ous struggle  that  follows  this  meeting  of  the  two  forces  is  indescrib- 
able. Officers  on  both  sides  urging  their  men  to  greater  effort  are 
seen  fighting  with  swords,  revolvers,  clubbed  musket,  bayonets,  axes 
and  anything  at  hand  until  the  enemy  is  forced  back  beyond  the  pos- 
ition held  for  a  short  time.  We  now  have  possession  of  our  de- 
fences and  while  the  enemy  outside  is  rallying  his  forces  to  renew 
the  attack,  his  ranks  are  rapidly  melting  away  before  our  musketry, 
grape  and  cannister.  Amid  the  smoke  and  darkness  setting  in  rebel 
officers  repeatedly  rally  their  forces  only  to  be  beaten  back,  in  the 
meantime  continue  firing  from  the  field  fronting  us.  The  enemy  fire 
gradually  weakens  until  it  almost  ceases  when  rebel  soldiers  taking 
cover  in  the  ditch  call  out  surrender  and  come  in  as  prisoners,  leav- 
ing the  ditch  well  filled  with  dead  and  wounded.  Many  of  these 
brave  Confederates  are  Kentuckians  and  Tennesseeans  now  hoping 
to  reach  their  homes  and  are  fighting  as  they  never  fought  before. 
Knowing  that  we  are  greatly  outnumbered  they  enter  upon  this  as- 
sault with  well  grounded  hopes  of  success,  yelling  like  demons  while 
making  these  assaults  and  confident  of  victory  at  the  onset.  Cap- 
tain Carter,  a  resident  of  this  village  is  killed  near  his  door  step  and 
other  residents  of  the  village  and  vicinity  are  killed,  wounded  or 
captured  near  their  homes.  Blue  and  gray  clad  bodies  are  now  strewn 
over  the  ground  on  our  side  of  the  fortifications  and  by  the  flash  of 
our  guns,  boys  in  gray  are  seen  almost  covering  the  ground  for  some 
distance  outside,  yet  it  seems  almost  a  miracle  that  so  many  could 
escape  the  deadly  rain  of  shot  and  shell  that  poured  into  their  massed 
columns  as  they  reformed  their  lines  and  made  these  assaults.  About 
two  hundred  Confederate  soldiers  of  the  Sixteenth  Alabama  came  in 
over  the  works  fronting  our  regiment  as  prisoners  and  inform  us  that 
their  brigade  is  almost  destroyed. 

The  rebels  finally  abandon  their  effort  to  again  break  our  line  at 
this  point  and  after  all  becomes  reasonably  quiet  our  regiment  is  sent 

139 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

out  orr  a  reconnoissance.  We  carefully  pick  our  way  over  dead  and 
mangled  Conferedates  a  half  mile  or  more  but  find  no  enemy  in  force 
except  the  fallen  ones  from  whom  agonizing  cries  and  pleas  for  help 
are  heard  from  all  parts  of  the  field.  Failing  to  locate  the  enemy  we 
return  to  the  line  and  soon  hear  heavy  musketry  and  cannonading  on 
our  right  accompanied  by  the  well  know  rebel  yell  where  the  Con- 
federates again  fail  to  break  our  lines  anrd  are  beater*  back  after  an- 
other heavy  loss  inflicted  by  Kimball's  Division  of  the  Fourth  Corps. 
The  enemy  now  seem  to  turn  attention  to  executing  a  flank  move- 
ment leaving  but  a  skirmish  line  to  attract  our  attention  while  his 
main  force  is  attempting  to  cross  the  river  to 'cut  off  our  retreat  to 
Nashville. 

During  this  engagement  our  division  capture  twenty-two  stands, 
of  the  enemy  colors,  six  of  which  ace  captured  by  our  regiment.  The 
loss  in  our  regiment  is  about  seventy  men,  killed,  wounded  and  cap- 
tnred,  about  one-fifth  of  the  men  on  duty.  Company  "B"  losing  one 
killed,  five  wounded  and  two  captured.  George  Haynam  is  killed  at 
the  second  assault  when  the  enemy  mounted  our  breastworks  and 
fired  down  upon  our  heads. 

Ephraim  Hostetter  of  Paris  township  is-  wounded  and  returns 
to  the  company  for  duty  in  a  few  weeks,  where  he  remains  until 
the  close  of  the  war  having  served  his  entire  term  of  enlistment 
except  this  short  absence. 

Walter  Walker  of  Paris  township  is  severely  wounded  and  on 
recovery  is  transferred  to  the  Reserve  Corps  where  he  remains 
tintil  the  close  of  the  war  after  28  months  of  faithful  duty  in  the 
ranks. 

Owen  Stackhouse  is  wounded  and  returns  to  the  company  in 
two  weeks.  Two  other  members  of  the  company  are  slightly 
wounded  which  does  not  disable  them. 

John  Stahl  of  Marlboro  is  captured  and  while  under  escort  of 
febel  guards  he  escapes  near  Columbia,  Tenn.,  but  is  recaptured 
finally  reaching  Andersonville  prison,  where  he  remains  until 
Sherman's  raid  through  Georgia.  The  enemy  finding  it  impos- 
sible to  remove  all  prisoners,  he  with  others  are  turned  loose  to 
shift  for  themselves.  Shoeless,  hatless  and  with  barely  clothes  to 
hide  their  nakedness  they  finally  reach  the  federal  lines.  Stahl  is 
discharged  near  the  close  of  the  war  on  surgeon's  certificate  of 
physical  disability,  after  service  in  the  ranks  of  twenty-eight 
months  and  five  months  prisoner  of  war.  He  is  now  one  of  the  13 
survivors. 

George  Haynam's  body  is  found  and  buried  in  a  shallow  grave 
near  the  cotton  gin  from  where  it  is  afterwards  removed  and  sent 
home  for  burial  as  noted  elsewhere. 

We  are  fortunate  in  having  good  breastworks  thus  saving  many 
lives  by  reason  of  this  protection  and  no  time  was  lost  during  the 
construction  of  this  line  of  defense.  Though  weak  and  weary  after 
our  night  march,  picks,  axes  and  shovels  were  kept  busy. 

While  all  is  reasonably  quiet  in  our  front  a  few  boys  crawl 
through  our  fortifications  and  do  what  is  possible  to  relieve  the 
fallen  enemy  who  are  crying  out  in  pitiful  tones  for  help.  After  giv- 
ing what  assistance  we  can  (which  is  but  little)  and  not  caring  to 
longer  expose  ourselves  to  occasional  shots  coming  in,  we  return, 

140 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

after   relieving  a   dead   Confederate   officer   of   a   fine    English   made 
leather  haversack  containing  a  few  biscuit. 

At  the  first  assault  General  Adams  leading  his  brigade  of  Ala- 
bama troops  leaps  the  ditch  fronting  our  defenses  and  while  urging 
his  men  forward  the  general  and  his  horse  is  killed,  the  horse  falling 
upon  the  works  and  the  general's  body  falling  forward  among  our 
soldiers.  General  Cleburne's  body  is  found  riddled  with  bullets  a 
short  distance  in  front  of  our  position.  General  Brown,  commanding 
a  division  of  rebels  together  with  his  four  brigade  commanders  are 
all  killed  or  wounded. 

The  scene  during  and  after  these  assaults  is  one  that  cannot  be 
forgotten  by  any  who  witnessed  the  result  of  this  deadly  conflict. 
The  field  in  our  front,  clear  of  obstruction  at  a  considerable  distance, 
forms  a  bloody  background  to  the  thousands  of  dead  and  mangled 
gray  clad  bodies  strewn  over  its  surface  and  the  pitiful  appeals  that 
continue  to  reach  our  ears  from  all  points  of  the  field  is  heartrend- 
ing. 

Schmucker's  History  of  the  Civil  War  says:  "The  battle  of  Frank- 
lin had  been  one  of  the  severest  for  the  time  occupied  and  the  number 
of  troops  engaged,  in  the  annals  of  war.  Hood  reported  it  as  a  vic- 
tory on  his  part,  but  it  was  a  victory  dearly  bought  and  almost  ruin- 
ous in  its  losses.  His  killed  numbered  seventeen  hundred  and  fifty; 
his  wounded  three  thousand  eight  hundred;  seven  hundred  and  two  of 
his  officers  and  men  were  captured,  making  his  losses  six  thousand 
two  hundred  and  fifty  two.  Among  the  killed,  were  Major  General 
Cleburne  and  five  brigadier  generals,  Williams,  Adams,  Gist,  Strahl 
and  Granbury,  with  Generals  Carter,  Mainigalt,  Quarles.  Cockerel  and 
Scott  wounded,  and  General  Gordon  captured.  The  Union  losses  were 
one  hundred  and  eighty  nine  killed,  one  thousand  and  thirty  three 
wounded  and  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  four  missing.  The  Union 
troops  captured  thirty  three  stands  of  colors  and  seven  hundred  and 
two  prisoners.  The  Union  army  was  compelled  to  leave  their  slain 
and  severely  wounded  upon  the  field,  but  these  were  cared  for  by  the 
people  of  Franklin." 

Rhodes  History  of  the  Civil  War  says:  "Hood  smarting  under 
his  disappointment  at  his  failure  to  capture  the  Union  army  at  Spring- 
hill  now  girds  himself  for  a  last  supreme  effort  to  retrieve  his  fail- 
ure on  the  preceding  day.  He  gave  orders  to  drive  the  Union  army 
into  the  Harpeth  river  or  destroy  it,  and  at  no  time  during  the  war 
did  men  fight  more  fiercely  or  bravely  than  did  the  Conferedates  at 
this  desperate  frontal  attack.  The  assault  began  at  four  o'clock  p.  m. 
The  Confederates  gained  a  temporary  advantage  but  were  repulsed 
with  a  terrible  loss  of  six  thousand,  with  five  generals  killed,  six 
wounded  and  one  captured ;  also  twenty  three  colonels,  eleven  lieu- 
tenant colonels,  ten  majors  and  nine  captains  killed,  wounded  and 
missing.  Two  brigades  were  left  with  captains  as  ranking  officers." 
About  two-thirds  of  the  contending  army  forces  were  engaged  in  this 
conflict,  the  remained  being  held  in  reserve. 

141 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

Headley's  History  of  the  War  says  of  Franklin:  "The  enemy  gcrt 
possession  of  the  first  line  of  works,  though  at  terrible  sacrifice.  At 
sunset  General  Cox  reformed  his  lines  and  advanced  when  the  bat- 
tle assumed  a  savage  ferocity.  The  rebels,  though  carrnister  and  shot 
of  nearby  batteries  cut  frightful  lanes  through  their  ranks,  refused  to> 
yield  the  ground  so  gallantly  won.  A  gladiatorial  contest  followed  irr 
which  the  combatants  stood  face  to  face  thrusting  bayonets  into  each 
other — with  clubbed  musket  and  demonical  yells  fought  in  the  deep- 
erring  twilight  more  like  savages  than-  civilized  rrren.'r 

Soon  after  dark  fire  breaks  out  in  buildings  near  our  works* 
Merr  are  set  at  work  to  subdue  the  flames  or  tear  down  the  buildings. 
It  is  believed  these  buildings  were  fired  by  rebel  citizens  or  prisoners 
to  enable  Hood  to  watch  our  movements  for  he  is  rro  doubt  aware 
that  we  will  get  out  of  Franklin  as  soon  as  possible.  Before  mid- 
night the  burning  buildings  are  consumed  or  torn  down  and  our 
wagon  trains  and  artillery  having  crossed  the  river,  we  quietly  evac- 
uate our  works  and  cross  the  river  in  retreat  toward  Nashville,  burn- 
ing the  bridge  behind  us. 

A  detail  of  pickets  is  left  in  our  abandoned  works  to  make  a  show 
of  resistance.  Our  dead  and  many  of  our  wounded  are  left  on  the 
field  where  they  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  for  we  have  all  we 
can  do  to  save  ourselves  from  capture  or  destruction.  We  hear  the 
rebels  are  crossing  the  river  on  our  flanks  hoping  to  cut  off  retreat 
to  Nashville,  while  our  pickets  are  keeping  up  a  steady  fire  as  we 
quietly  fall  back,  leaving  the  pickets  with  scant  hope  of  escaping 
death  or  tortures  of  rebel  prison.  During  the  remainder  of  the  night 
of  November  30,  rebel  cavalry  is  crowding  our  rear  capturing  worn- 
out  soldiers  who  fall  by  the  roadside  and  are  overlooked  by  our  rear 
guard.  We  havn't  had  an  undisturbed  night's  rest  since  encountering 
the  enemy  at  Columbia  on  November  24.  This  experience  with  the 
mental  and  physical  strain  since  that  date  has  exhausted  the  entire 
army.  At  the  slighest  hah  on  the  lines,  soldiers  drop  along  the  road- 
side heedless  of  danger  from  capture,  that  rest  and  sleep  may  be 
found.  How  long  can  we  stand  this  drive?  Yet  with  faltering  step 
we  go  on  and  on  feeling  that  each  step  will  be  the  last,  continuing 
on  until  near  morning  when  we  file  into  a  resting  place  at  the  road- 
side and  drop  to  the  cold  ground  supperless  and  exhausted  in  mind 
and  body.  From  the  time  the  river  is  crossed  until  we  halt  for  this 
short  rest,  events  of  the  past  few  hours  seem  as  a  horrible  dream. 
Boys  declared  they  had  slept  while  marching  and  in  their  vague 
dreams  again  hear  the  turmoil  of  battle,  the  clashing  of  steel  ming- 
led with  voices  urging  men  in  the  strife.  They  again  hear  agonizing 
appeals  coming  from  gray  clad  boys  whose  voices  grow  weaker  and 
weaker  until  relief  is  found  in  death.  All  is  silent  as  we  stagger 
along  each  reviewing  events  of  the  past  few  hours  with  echoes  of 
strife  ringing  in  our  ears.  Not  until  the  next  day  can  we  fully  realize 
this  experience,  and  that  two  thousand  soldiers  lie  dead  on  the  field 
we  just  abandoned  and  double  this  number  of  wounded  and  dying  are 

142 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

scattered  over  the  field,  many  of  whom  might  be  saved  if  timely  aid 
could  be  given. 

At  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  December  1,  we  are  allowed 
this  short  rest  until  sunrise  when  we  are  again  formed  in  line  to  con- 
tinue the  retreat  to  Nashville  and  are  not  given  time  to  prepare  a 
warm  breakfast.  While  waiting  orders  to  move  we  patronize  a  sut- 
ler who  has  pitched  his  tent  by  the  roadside  and  is  doing  a  rushing 
business.  On  arrival  at  Nashville  our  forces  move  in  and  form  lines 
on  the  south  side  of  the  city  each  regiment  making  display  of  rebel 
flags  captured  at  Franklin  and  though  tired  and  worn  after  our  escape 
from  what  for  a  time,  seemed  to  be  almost  certain  disaster  to  our  lit- 
tle force,  all  are  happy  over  the  terrible  punishment  we  have  dealt 
the  enemy.  Here  we  find  reinforcements  under  General  A.  J.  Smith 
with  a  portion  of  the  Sixteenth  Corps  which,  with  other  troops  gath- 
ered from  various  points  we  now  have  an  army  equal  in  number  to 
the  enemy,  the  latter  having  lost  something  like  six  thousand  soldiers 
during  the  past  twenty-four  hours. 

After  locating  on  the  line  we  prepare  breakfast  of  coffee  and 
crackers  to  which  is  added  a  few  extras  purchased  from  the  sutler 
and  find  that  our  slice  of  cheese  has  been  placed  to  soak  in  a  mess  of 
blood  that  had  found  its  way  in  the  outside  pocket  of  the  rebel  haver- 
sack. We  scrape  this  away  as  much  as  possible  taking  care  not  to 
waste  too  much  cheese  yet  enjoy  this  breakfast,  the  first  satisfactory 
meal  we  have  had  since  leaving  Columbia. 

December  3,  our  regiment  moves  into  a  small  fort  in  support  of  a 
battery  located  on  the  right  of  the  Columbia  pike,  with  Ft.  Negley  on 
our  left.  The  enemy  now  appears  in  our  front  and  in  places  can  be 
seen  forming  lines  and  building  fortifications  while  skirmishing  is 
heard  along  the  lines  and  cannonading  on  our  right  where  gunboats 
are  said  to  be  shelling  the  enemy's  cavalry  to  prevent  crossing  the 
river. 

Captain  B.'s  contraband  cook  now  makes  his  appearance.  Lige 
disappeared  immediately  after  the  first  shell  exploded  over  his  head 
at  Franklin.  Lige  is  a  philosophical  coon.  When  taken  to  task  by 
the  captain  he  declared  he  was  dressing  a  chicken  for  the  captain  and 
was  "boun'  and  'termined  dat  de  rebs  was  nevah  gwine  to  get  dat 
fowl.  Anyhow  I's  not  lookin'  foh  no  grave  ya'd  nor  hospital.  Cook- 
in's  my  'fession,  not  fightin'.  I  doan  draw  no  pay  foh  fightin'  and  I 
neval  butts  into  udder  people's  business,  nohow."  But  Lige  had  no 
"fowl"  on  hands  at  the  time  he  disappeared  but  had  bought  (?) 
chicken  to  present  to  the  captain  as  a  peace  offering. 

December  1,  William  Haynam  of  Paris  township  is  detailed 
for  a  short  term  of  guard  duty  at  headquarters.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  this  short  absence  he  serves  his  entire  term  of  enlistment 
on  duty  with  the  company  and  is  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the 
war  after  faithful  service  of  over  thirty  three  months. 

At  last  Smitty  has  realized  on  his  forbodings  of  disaster  and  vis- 
ions of  Andersonville  again  loom  up  before  him  for  he  is  now  on  his 
way  to  that  abode  where  they  who  enter  leave  but  little  hope  behind. 

143 


"Not  lookin'  fob  no  grave  yahd" 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

The  order  of  detail  for  duty  happened  to  be  in  the  S's  and  Smitty 
and  Stahl  draw  the  prize.  They  are  detailed  for  picket  duty  to  re- 
main in  the  works  at  Franklin  to  keep  up  a  show  of  resistance  while 
we  abandon  the  field  leaving  them  to  their  fate.  The  boys  are  made 
a  sacrifice  that  we  may  be  saved  and  to  make  their  position  more 
hazardous  we  burn  the  bridge  behind  us  leaving  them  to  die  in  the 
trenches  or  take  their  chances  in  rebel  prisons.  They  are  types  of 
the  hardy  and  dutiful  boys  who  are  fighting  to  save  the  Union.  Smitty 
has  not  been  disappointed  in  receiving  his  full  share  of  trouble,  hav- 
ing passed  through  famines  at  "Valley  Forge"  and  the  siege  of  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  severely  wounded  in  Georgia  and  now  a  prisoner.  Then 
to  add  to  these  troubles  after  release  from  prisone  he  is  scalded  in 
the  Sultana  explosion  and  picked  up  while  floating  down  the  Miss- 
issippi river.  Before  leaving  the  burning  vessel  he  is  said  to  have 
remained  on  deck  throwing  wreckage  to  comrades  struggling  in  the 
water  until  the  burning  vessel  forces  him  to  leap  overboard. 

Disabled  for  further  duty  he  is  discharged  near  the  close  of  the 
war  and  dies  a  few  years  after,  thus  paying  a  penalty  for  duties  well 
performed. 

December  7,  1864,  I  visit  friends  belonging  to  the  Thirty  Fifth 
Iowa  regiment  in  the  Sixteenth  Corps,  under  command  of  General 
A.  J.  Smith,  the  reinforcements  we  have  been  looking  for  and  so  sore- 
ly needed  during  the  past  two  weeks.  The  enemy  fronting  us  ad- 
vance a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  driving  our  skirmishers  back  some 
distance  then  retires,  he  probably  being  out  on  this  scout  to  get  a 
line  on  the  positions  of  our  forces.  The  weather  is  cold  and  snow 
flying.  Fuel  is  scarce  and  our  muslin  sleeping  apartments  give  but 
little  protection  and  shelter. 

On  December  8,  I  am  sent  with  a  squad  of  men  to  the  picket  line 
where  we  take  position  at  a  large  brick  residence  now  abandoned 
by  its  owner.  All  is  quiet  along  the  line.  The  rebel  pickets  wave  a 
white  flag  and  we  respond.  About  a  dozen  rebels  and  Yanks  leave  their 
guns  and  meet  between  the  lines  where  each  enjoy  a  friendly  visit 
with  the  enemy.  The  rebels  put  on  a  bold  front  and  tell  us  they  ex- 
pect to  enjoy  the  hospitalities  of  friends  in  Nashville  in  a  few  days 
and  we  promise  them  another  warm  reception.  We  know  they  are 
despondent  for  all  are  haggard  and  worn,  are  poorly  equipped  and 
look  as  though  they  might  be  clothed  in  some  of  the  garments  our 
forces  wore  at  Strawberry  Plains,  Tenn.  They  tell  us  "You'ns'll  soon 
be  drove  back  to  the  Ohio  river  or  captured."  We  roast  the  John- 
nies about  our  slippery  dodge  at  Springhill  and  the  hard  jolt  they 
were  given  at  Franklin.  After  passing  a  little  coffee  to  these  rebs.  in 
exchange  for  twist  tobacco  the  truce  ends  and  both  sides  go  under 
cover. 

On  December  9,  we  are  relieved  and  return  to  camp  and  find  the 
ground  a  glare  of  ice  and  snow  is  falling.  On  December  13,  accom- 
panied by  a  comrade  we  slip  the  guard  to  visit  the  city  and  while  tak- 
ing in  the  sights  and  dodging  patrol  guards  we  finally  dodge  right 

145 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

into  the  clutches  of  patrols  who  demand  our  passes.  Partner  now  be- 
gins a  search  for  our  pass  (?)  and  after  going  through  his  pocket  a 
third  time  he  informs  the  patrol  that  he  must  have  lost  it,  but  the 
story  don't  go  with  the  patrol  and  we  are  marched  off  to  the  Zolli- 
coffer  House  in  spite  of  our  protests  and  the  many  unpleasant  vocal 
shots  we  fire  at  them.  They  are  new  recruits  and  can't  be  bribed  or 
bullied.  For  several  hours  we  occupy  quarters  filled  with  bounty 
jumpers,  deserters  and  other  crooks.  But  we  finally  get  a  hearing  by 
the  officer  in  charge  who  doubts  our  story  yet  releases  us  and  camp 
is  reached  in  time  for  roll  call. 

On  December  14,  the  weather  moderates  leaving  our  quarters  a 
mass  of  mud  and  water.  During  the  day  General  Thomas  and  staff 
visit  our  company  quarters  and  from  this  high  point  carefully  ex- 
amines the  location  of  the  emeny  lines  and  the  lay  of  the  land  be- 
tween the  contending  armies. 

Here  is  an  opportunity  for  Fritz  who  is  now  urged  by  the  boys 
to  give  the  General  a  few  pointers  on  how  to  conduct  the  coming  bat- 
tle, then  Fritz  tells  the  boys  where  to  go. 

We  now  have  a  hint  that  something  will  be  doing  soon  and  this 
is  confirmed  when  orders  are  issued  to  prepare  for  a  movement  on  the 
following  morning.  Guns  and  equipment  are  placed  in  order  and  ra- 
tions are  issued.  On  December  15,  we  are  in  line  at  an  early  hour  and 
march  a  short  distance  to  the  rear  where  our  movements  are  hidden 
from  the  enemy  by  intervening  hills. 

We  now  move  to  the  right  and  when  passing  exposed  positions  we 
stoop  low  carrying  arms  at  a  trail.  Heavy  musketry  and  artillery 
firing  is  heard  on  the  left  of  our  line  with  loud  cheering  indicating 
that  our  forces  are  assaulting  the  enemy  line.  We  are  taking  a 
position  on  the  right  of  our  lines  next  to  the  cavalry  with  which  we 
now  co-operate  to  turn  the  enemy  left  wing  and  take  a  position  not 
far  from  the  Granny  White  pike  where  we  build  rifle  pits.  On  the 
following  morning  we  are  ordered  to  be  in  readiness  with  bayonets 
fixed  to  move  on  the  enemy  position  at  a  moment's  notice.  Looking 
back  toward  the  city  we  see  house  tops  covered  with  citizens  watch- 
ing movements  of  the  contending  armies.  The  state  house  roof  and 
tower  are  covered  with  people  anxiously  and  patiently  waiting  to  wit- 
ness the  battle,  the  result  of  which  will  be  bitter  disappointment  to 
many  of  these  witnesses.  We  now  hear  the  well  known  rebel  yell  on 
our  left  or  near  the  center  of  the  lines  which  tell  us  that  our  forces  are 
meeting  strong  resistance  at  that  point.  Our  brigade  has  been  standing 
in  this  position  waiting  orders  until  afternoon  when  word  comes  that 
our  cavalry  has  turned  the  enemy  left  and  is  creating  great  disturb- 
ance in  the  rebel  rear.  We  are  now  ordered  over  our  defenses  and 
command  is  given  to  assault  the  enemy  position.  Before  us  lies  a 
corn  field  on  a  steep  hillside  and  in  this  soft  earth  we  sink  shoe  top 
deep  in  mud  while  making  way  through  the  field  leaving  many  shoes 
sticking  fast  in  the  mud.  We  arrive  at  the  base  of  a  steep  and  stony 
hill  oin  top  of  which  the  enemy  is  entrenched  with  several  savage 

146 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

looking  cannon  rapidly  firing  shot  and  shell  over  our  heads  and  in  the 
direction  of  their  friends  on  the  housetops.  Here  we  stop  to  get  our 
second  wind  and  then  go  up  this  steep  hill  with  lusty  cheers  and  soon 
get  possession  of  one  of  the  enemy  batteries.  Then  pushing  forward 
we  get  possession  of  another  battery  the  enemy  is  trying  to  save. 
Johnnies  are  wild  and  bewildered  for  our  cavalry  is  peppering  them 
briskly  on  flank  and  rear  and  they  are  at  a  loss  to  know  which  way 
to  turn.  Many  of  the  rebel  infantry  who  have  been  supporting  the 
rebel  batteries  throw  down  their  guns  and  surrender. 

The  captured  guns  are  turned  and  fired  at  the  fleeing  rebels,  who 
are  now  reported  to  be  in  retreat  along  the  line.  Here  we  capture 
about  200  prisoners,  several  stand  of  colors  and  eight  pieces  of  artil- 
lery. Four  of  the  latter  and  two  stands  of  colors  are  captured  by  our 
regiment.  In  this  charge  the  loss  in  the  regiment  was  less  than  a 
dozen  men.  Prisoners  are  taken  without  much  trouble  for  many  of 
the  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  Confederate  soldiers  are  ready  to  quit 
for  all  hope  of  winning  the  "sacred  cause"  is  gone.  Among  these 
prisoners  is  noticed  a  very  long  and  lean  Georgian,  quite  seven  feet 
tall,  sockless  and  whose  shoes  and  pants  do  not  connect  by  at  least 
six  inches.  His  hairy  shins  have  gathered  considerable  mud  which 
has  worked  itself  into  a  form  of  "bugle  trimming"  that  must  afford 
some  protection  during  this  wintry  weather.  He  stands  head  and 
shoulders  above  surrounding  comrades  and  good  naturedly  "lows  that 
a  few  more  killin's  like  Franklin  and  the  southern  cause  will  de  done 
gone." 

The  enemy  is  now  dislodged  all  along  the  line  and  reported  in 
full  retreat.  On  December  17,  we  start  out  in  pursuit  through  a  cold 
rain,  wading  mud  and  water  on  the  torn  up  pikes  and  roads,  while 
our  cavalry  is  encouraging  the  enemy  in  its  flight  toward  the  inter- 
ior of  Dixie,  making  frequent  charges  gathering  in  hundreds  of  pris- 
oners and  deserters,  compelling  Hood  to  abandon  much  of  his  artil- 
lery and  supply  wagons  left  sticking  in  the  mire.  The  roads  are  now 
in  such  bad  condition  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  make  headway; 
even  our  cavalry  finding  it  difficult  to  get  along  with  speed.  Over 
these  roads  we  continue  the  march  and  while  passing  along  after  dark- 
ness sets  in  we  are  delayed  by  coming  in  contact  with  mired  and 
abondoned  artillery  and  wagons,  with  cut  traces  showing  that  the 
enemy  were  hard  pressed  in  an  effort  to  escape.  Luckless  soldiers 
fall  in  these  holes  and  deep  cuts  and  before  they  are  able  to  get  out 
others  fall  upon  them.  Though  weary  and  worn  no  complaint  is 
heard  for  all  now  feel  that  the  war  will  soon  be  over  and  Ritchey  ex- 
presses another  fear  of  losing  his  "steady  job"  and  declares  that  the 
"walkin'  is  fine." 

In  the  darkness  no  one  undertakes  to  crack  Ritchey  over  his  head 
with  a  gun  barrel  for  fear  of  injuring  innocent  comrads.  While  wal- 
lowing along  through  mud  and  water,  in  immitation  of  the  Katydid's 
monotone  voice  the  cry  of  "Granny  White,  Granny  White,  Granny 
White  Pike"  is  passing  along  the  line  as  far  as  voices  can  be  heard. 

148 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

It  now  begins  to  rain  and  after  a  march  of  about  six  miles  we  camp 
near  this  pike.  On  the  morning  of  December  18,  rations  are  issued 
and  the  march  is  continued  southward  passing  another  day  marching 
in  mud  and  water  and  around  obstructions  left  fast  in  the  mire  by  the 
retreating  enemy.  During  this  day's  march  we  repeat  our  experience 
of  yesterday  and  long  after  dark  camp  in  an  open  field  after  march- 
ing about  twelve  miles.  Tramping  over  this  field  in  search  of  fuel 
and  water  soon  converts  our  camping  grounds  into  a  bed  of  mortar. 
Blazing  rail  fires  are  soon  started  and  supper  is  prepared  and  served 
from  the  usual  bill  of  fare.  We  are  a  mass  of  mud  to  our  knees  with 
feet  cold  and  soaking  wet.  A  number  of  boys  go  to  a  stream  nearby 
where  they  jump  into  the  cold  water  wading  up  and  down  the  stream 
until  a  portion  of  the  mud  is  washed  away  then  stand  by  the  fires 
until  dry  or  lie  down  on  rails  or  brush  mattresses  to  rest  and  sleep. 
Many  stand  by  the  fires  and  dry  themselves  with  mud  clinging  to 
them  leaving  the  dry  earth  to  wear  away  in  time.  In  civil  life  this 
kind  of  experience  is  expected  to  kill,  but  we  now  seem  to  be  disease 
proof  and  thoroughly  hardened  to  the  miseries  of  war. 

In  spite  of  this  rough  treatment  all  are  in  a  happy  mood  over  the 
situation  and  our  success  during  the  past  two  days.  The  enemy  has 
surely  made  the  last  stand  in  Tennessee  and  our  cavalry  is  pressing 
the  retreating  forces  sending  an  almost  constant  stream  of  prisoners 
passing  us  on  their  way  to  northern  prisons  where  they  will  receive 
better  care  and  treatment  than  they  have  been  accustomed  to,  while 
our  boys  in  Andersonville  and  other  southern  prisons  are  starving 
and  dying  by  hundreds. 

Detailed  for  picket  tonight.  Hard  luck  but  the  duty  must  be  per- 
formed, though  all  are  tired  and  worn,  yet  happy  withal.  Picket  is 
found  asleep  at  his  post  but  not  reported  by  corporal  who  makes  the 
discovery.  The  picket  is  tired,  sore  and  sleepy  and  the  enemy  on  the 
run  so  the  safety  of  the  army  is  not  endangered  by  a  neglect  of  duty. 

So  elated  are  all  over  our  success  that  we  unite  in  praising  "Pap" 
Thomas  for  his  great  victory  and  saving  the  army  from  disaster.  It's 
noisy  time  in  the  ranks  with  all  except  Yonie  and  Fritz,  whose  guns 
are  silenced  and  they  really  seem  to  be  disappointed,  while  other  boys 
are  trying  to  get  a  hearing  and  are  too  busy  to  listen  to  the  other 
fellow.  When  Yonie  and  Fritz's  signs  and  predictions  fail  they  keep 
very  quiet  but  the  other  boy's  don't  for  they  are  now  saying  many 
unpleasant  things  reminding  these  strategists  of  past  sins  and  unful- 
filled predictions.  Among  other  things  they  remind  Yonie  of  his  coon 
story  related  some  time  ago.  Hunting  was  a  favorite  sport  at  our 
homes  and  many  adventures  are  related  as  we  march  along.  After 
a  number  have  given  experience  along  this  line  Yonie  produces  a 
story  that  the  boys  call  "a  corker,"  and  all  surrender  and  pass  the  belt 
to  Yonie.  Boys  also  remind  Fritz  of  the  time  he  invested  the  entire 
proceeds  of  a  winter's  catch  of  pelts  in  a  coon  dog,  by  asking  him 
what,  in  his  opinion,  a  good  coon  dog  is  worth  in  pelts  or  cash,  and 
points  one  should  observe  in  selecting  a  good  animal,  breed,  age 

149 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

color,  etc.  Then  Fritz  extends  the  usual  invitation  and  tells  his  tor- 
mentors where  to  go.  The  animal  referred  to  as  having  been  pur- 
chased by  Fritz  was  recommended  by  the  owner  to  be  a  fine  animal 
and  an  excellent  coon  dog.  On  his  way  home  Fritz  stopped  at  the 
homes  of  a  number  of  neighbor  friends  to  whom  he  proudly  showed 
his  new  purchase  and  invited  the  boys  to  call  around  that  night  to 
give  the  dog  a  try  out.  The  boys  were  on  hand  promptly  but  it  was 
soon  found  that  the  dog  took  no  interest  whatever  in  hunting  coons 
or  anything  else  and  insisted  on  keeping  right  close  to  the  hunters' 
heels.  Sorely  disappointed  and  vexed  at  the  torments  inflicted  by  his 
companions,  he  visits  the  former  owner  of  the  dog  and  asked  an  ex- 
planation. "Now  really"  says  the  man,  "I  am  much  surprised  for  I 
have  always  believed  that  everything  was  created  for  some  useful  pur- 
pose. For  two  years  I  haved  owned  this  dog  and  tried  in  every  other 
way  and  he  never  was  worth  a  d —  for  anything  else  and  for  this  I 
reasoned  he  must  be  an  excellent  coon  dog." 

Boys  torment  Yonie  and  Fritz  so  much  today  their  voices  are 
thrown  out  of  gear,  yet  they  tell  us  to  wait  awhile  before  blowing  so 
much,  reminding  us  that  the  "war  is  not  all  over  already." 

Our  sympathies  go  out  to  Smitty  and  Stahl  who  have  probably 
been  assigned  quarters  in  a  hole  in  the  ground  at  Andersonville  prison 
and  all  are  hoping  these  dutiful  and  hardy  soldiers  who  have  stood 
up  under  two  years  of  hard  knocks  will  weather  the  tortures  of  prison 
life.  Unfortunately  Smitty  has  found  what  he  has  been  looking  for, 
not  imaginary  troubles  this  time  but  the  unadulterated  article  and 
plenty  of  it.  We  continue  praises  for  "Pap"  Thomas  who  has  deliv- 
ered us  from  a  desperate  situation  and  turned  threatened  disaster 
into  a  grand  victory;  the  man  who  saved  our  army  at  Chickamauga 
and  never  lost  a  battle,  and  now  with  an  unorganized  army  turns  on 
his  antagonist  at  Nashville  and  drives  him  out  of  the  state  with  a  loss 
to  the  enemy  of  about  one  third  his  army  and  equipment.  Smitty  is 
probably  laying  his  troubles  to  Sherman's  bad  generalship.  But  Smitty 
is  not  alone  in  his  criticisms  for  we  occasionally  see  letters  from 
home  written  by  people  condemning  Lincoln  because  our  soldiers  are 
dying  and  suffering  in  rebel  prisons.  In  fact  all  the  ills  that  now  be- 
fall the  country  is,  in  their  opinion  due  to  the  weak  administration 
of  the  "Illinois  railsplitter"  and  the  War  Department.  "Crazy  Bill 
Sherman"  and  "Useless  Slaughter  Grant"  share  with  the  president 
the  abuse  of  cranks  and  copperheads  of  the  north  who  declare  that 
"after  four  years  the  war  has  proved  to  be  a  failure"  and  demand 
peace  at  any  price.  These  calamity  howlers  are  claiming  that  the 
country  is  going  to  destruction  and  have  gained  such  a  strong  fol- 
lowing in  the  north  that  but  for  the  soldier  vote  at  the  last  election 
Lincoln  might  have  been  defeated  for  he  lost  three  loyal  states  and 
carried  a  number  of  others  by  very  small  majorities. 

Villages  throughout  the  north  are  infested  with  a  class  of  rear 
generals  who  are  wasting  their  time  and  talents  at  the  corner  grocery. 
Here  seated  on  a  mackerel  keg  and  armed  with  Sampson's  favorite 

150 


Rear  General  in  Action 

After  enumerating  many  mistakes  of  Lincoln  and  Stanton  he 
draws  battle  lines  showing  "the  exact  spot  where  Hooker  made  a 
mistake"  while  the  amber  fluid  from  his  pipe  stem  leaves  traces  of 
battle  lines  upon  the  floor. 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

weapon  of  warfare  these  critics  and  croakers  are  explaining  the  whys 
and  wherefores  of  failure  in  the  field  and  war  department.  With  the 
steam  of  his  pipe  the  ranking  village  general  may  be  seen  tracing 
out  battle  lines  showing  the  exact  spot  where  Hooker  and  other  gen- 
erals have  made  mistakes.  Company  "B"  has  its  strategists  who  are 
not  altogether  satisfied  with  the  way  the  war  is  conducted,  yet  these 
boys  are  performing  faithful  service  in  defense  of  the  Union  and  en- 
joy listening  to  sound  of  their  own  voices;  only  smooth  bores  firing 
harmless  blank  catridges. 

Washington  and  his  patriots  while  struggling  for  independence 
had  their  tories,  traitors  and  critics,  types  that  are  now  endeavoring 
to  discredit  Lincoln  and  his  cabinet  and  will  probably  follow  down 
the  years  to  pester  any  administration  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  a 
war  on  its  hands. 

Many  of  Lincoln's  critics  are  old  time  agitators,  so  radical  in 
their  anti-slavery  sentiment  as  to  advocate  separation  of  the  Union 
because  of  slavery,  yet  are  seldom  known  to  shoulder  a  musket  in 
behalf  of  the  down  trodden  race. 

With  all  these  croakers,  misfit  generals,  crooked  contractors, 
office  seekers,  income  tax  dodgers  and  so  on,  giving  Lincoln  un- 
told trouble,  he  has  expressed  a  wish  to  exchange  places  with 
some  private  soldier  in  the  ranks.  When  this  wish  becomes  known 
Fritz  is  urged  by  the  boys  to  open  correspondence  with  the  President 
and  take  the  job  off  his  hands.  We  think  Fritz  can  take  care  of  the 
situation  and  dispose  of  these  pests  by  talking  them  to  death  after 
a  few  rounds,  for  Fritz  is  a  poor  listener  and  seldom  hears  any  voice 
except  his  own,  but  he  refuses  to  heed  the  boys  advice  and  tells  them 
to  go  to  the  same  old  place. 

Amid  all  these  hardships  and  dangers  frequent  badgering,  argu- 
ments or  quarrels  can  be  depended  upon.  Forgetful  of  our  own  in- 
firmities we  do  not  forget  to  remind  others  of  real  or  imaginary 
shortcomings  they  are  supposed  to  possess.  If  a  starter  is  needed 
Ritchey  is  always  on  duty.  Like  boys  in  a  family  we  have  our  dis- 
putes and  quarrels  but  these  are  soon  forgotten  and  all  are  ever  ready 
to  care  for  comrades  in  distress  or  when  imposed  upon  by  anyone 
outside  the  family. 

Many  rebel  prisoners  are  being  escorted  to  the  rear  by  our  caval- 
ry and  will  now  "enjoy  the  hospitality  of  friends  in  Nashville,"  but 
as  prisoners  of  war.  Hospitality  is  a  ruling  passion  with  southern 
people  that  is  sometimes  extended  to  the  enemy. 

While  on  patrol  duty  in  Knoxville  a  negro  cook,  belonging  to  an 
aristocractic  family  who  departed  for  the  interior  of  Dixie  when  we 
occupied  that  city,  was  asked  to  bake  us  a  pan  of  biscuit.  The  cook 
informed  us  that  the  lady  in  charge  did  not  love  yanks  but  he  would 
see  her  and  much  to  our  surprise  he  was  ordered  to  prepare  the  bis- 
cuit. When  we  called  we  found  the  cook  and  lady  awaiting  at  the 
door  where  we  received  the  biscuits  and  offered  payment.  Here  was 

152 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

the  opportunity  that  may  have  inspired  her  generosity  for  instantly 
the  fire  flashed  from  her  eyes  and  all  she  said  about  "avaricious  and 
mercenary  Yankees"  surely  covered  the  entire  ground.  To  insult  a 
southerner  by  offering  payment  for  hospitable  treatment  was  more 
than  this  dignified  spinster  would  tolerate  without  resentment,  all 
of  which  was  plainly  shown  in  a  withering  tirade  delivered  on  the 
spot.  We  didn't  have  our  dicionaries  with  us  but  gussed  that  what- 
ever was  meant  was  not  complimentary.  But  a  hungry  soldier  with  a 
pan  of  warm  biscuit  in  his  haversack  will  stand  up  under  a  great  deal 
of  this  kind  of  punishment  and  willingly  take  more  biscuit  at  the 
price. 

December  19,  we  remain  in  camp  a  short  time  and  all  are  busy 
cleaning  up  and  writing  letters  home  for  this  is  the  only  opportunity 
we  have  had  to  write  since  leaving  Nashville.  Evenings  before  tattoo 
is  often  spent  in  letter  writing  and  we  seldom  neglect  this  duty  for 
folks  at  home  are  alway  anxious  to  hear  from  us  more  especially  after 
a  battle. 

A  piece  of  candle,  with  bayonet  sticking  in  the  ground  for  a  ran- 
dlestick,  affords  a  little  light  for  the  purpose.  Sometimes  we  are  out 
of  stamps  and  in  this  emergency  the  following  is  added  to  the  ad- 
dress on  the  letter — 

"Postmaster  please  to  pass  this  through, 
I've  nary  a  cent,  but  three  months  due." 

The  postmaster  seems  to  accept  this  rhyme  in  good  faith  and 
sends  the  letter  through  for  he  does  not  believe  a  soldier  will  lie — 
for  three  cents. 

At  the  fall  of  Atlanta  we  hoped  and  believed  that  war  in  the  west 
was  about  ended,  that  we  might  reach  our  homes  in  a  short  time,  but 
fortunately  or  unfortunately  for  us,  "Heaven  from  all  creatures  hides 
the  book  of  fate."  Had  we  known  of  the  ordeal  through  which  we 
were  fated  to  pass  during  the  second  Georgia  campaign  these  hopes 
would  have  vanished.  We  have  stood  up  under  a  severe  physical 
test  during  the  past  eighteen  months  and  are  now  apparently  hard- 
ened to  meet  any  demand. 

It  looks  as  though  there  will  be  no  more  fighting  in  the  south  and 
southwest  for  Hood  has  surely  abandoned  this  field  of  operation. 
We  now  have  an  army  in  the  west  of  about  forty  thousand  men  and 
no  enemy  in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  except  a  few  scattering  bands 
that  are  being  taken  care  of  by  our  cavalry.  All  are  guessing  what 
will  come  next,.and  the  subject  is  being  discussed  in  the  ranks.  Some 
of  the  boys  think  we  will  settle  down  for  a  rest  and  remain  here 
until  the  Potomac  army  completes  it  work  in  Virginia.  Others  say 
we  will  march  to  that  state  and  co-operate  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  to  finish  up  the  job.  Boys  continue  to  torment  our  military 
strategists  who  have  so  miserably  failed  in  their  predictions  of  dis- 
aster since  "Sherman  deserted  us."  They  come  back  with  the  argu- 
ment that  only  the  wise  generalship  of  "Pap  Thomas,"  the  greatest 

154 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

general  in  the  army"  saved  us  from  ending  our  term  of  service    in 
rebel  prisons."    Perhaps  they  are  right. 

On  the  afternoon  of  December  19,  we  move  forward  a  few  miles 
and  camp  a  short  distance  outside  the  village  of  Franklin.  A  detail 
of  men  is  sent  to  the  battlefield  of  November  30,  where  we  fh'd  our 
dead  have  been  stripped  of  clothing  and  bodies  thrown  in  benches 
under  a  light  covering  of  earth.  Recent  rains  had  washed  away  much 
of  this  covering  leaving  portions  of  the  bodies  exposed.  Without 
clothing  many  of  these  bloated  and  discolored  dead  cannot  be  iden- 
tified except  by  tattoo  marks  found  on  a  few  of  them.  Fragments  of 
blankets,  canvas  tents  and  clothing  is  found  in  which  these  bodies 
are  wrapped  and  buried  with  the  honors  of  war.  Woo-Jen  head- 
boards are  placed  at  the  graves  marked  with  names  of  "unknown." 
Here  we  find  that  the  enemy  in  his  hasty  retreat  has  left  nearly  all 
the  wounded  of  both  armies  to  fall  into  our  hands,  and  these  are  be- 
ing cared  for  by  rebel  surgeons  and  citizens  of  Franklin. 

We  find  the  enemy  has  buried  his  dead  in  rows  not  far  from  the 
village  where  we  counted  nearly  eighteen  hundred  graves  and  are 
informed  by  citizens  that  a  number  of  the  Confederate  dead  had  been 
removed  by  friends,  so  the  enemy  loss  must  have  been  nearly  two 
thousand.  Coming,  as  they  did  in  solid  masses  when  making  their 
assaults  it  seemed  almost  impossible  to'  miss  unless  guns  were 
aimed  too  high. 

December  21.       Sent  out  on  the  picket  line  passing  through  this 
field  of  death  where  about  two  thousand  men  sleep 
"Under  the  sod  and  the  dew, 
Waiting  the  judgement  day, 
Under  the  one  the  blue, 
Under  the  other  the  gray." 

Soon  after  establishing  our  line  the  assembly  call  is  heard  in 
camp.  The  army  soon  passes  through  the  picket  line  when  we  are 
ordered  to  fall  in  as  rear  guard  and  we  leave  behind  us  a  memory  of 
one  of  the  most  deadly  battles  of  the  war  with  its  struggles  and  its 
moans  of  the  maimed  and  dying. 

After  a  march  of  about  fifteen  miles  we  camp  near  Springhill 
where  we  narrowly  escaped  capture  about  three  weeks  ago.  On  De- 
cember 22,  we  remain  in  camp  and  draw  rations,  also  a  storm  of  rain 
and  snow.  On  December  23,  our  march  is  continued  to  Columbia, 
Tenn.,  where  we  first  encountered  the  enemy  after  an  exciting  foot 
race.  Here  we  remain  until  December  26.  Meantime  bunky  and  I 
have  a  chicken  stew  for  Christmas  dinner.  We  cross  Duck  river  and 
camp  about  two  miles  from  the  village  and  on  the  following  day 
move  to  a  more  suitable  location.  Here  we  fix  up  our  quarters  as 
comfortably  as  possible  and  hear  that  "Uncle  Billie"  has  reached 
Savannah,  Georgia,  and  says  he  has  been  making  "Rome  howl"  on  his 
long  trip  while  feasting  on  the  fat  of  the  Confederacy.  From  there 

155 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

Sherman  wires  President  Lincoln,  offering  the  City  of  Savannah  as 
a  Christmas  present. 

It  now  seems  that  the  chase  after  Hood  is  abandoned  by  our  in- 
fantry forces  but  our  cavalry  continues  the  pursuit  gathering  in  hun- 
dreds of  prisoners  and  deserters.  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  Confed- 
erate soldiers  are  now  going  to  their  homes  while  the  going  is  good 
and  the  cause  for  which  they  have  been  fighting  is  hopeless,  the  strife 
is  ended  for  them.  They  are  deserting  or  giving  themselves  up  as 
prisoners,  and  to  use  their  own  expression,  they  don't  want  to  engage 
in  any  more  "killin's." 

With  the  heavy  odds  against  us  we  surely  escaped  capture  or 
destruction  by  a  narrow  chance  at  the  battle  of  Franklin  and  our  safe 
withdrawal  was  a  triumph  for  General  Thomas.  Our  defeat  there 
meant  the  loss  of  Nashville  and  an  open  field  for  a  northern  raid  by 
the  enemy,  and  probable  prolonging  of  the  war. 

History  gives  the  result  of  our  three  days  operation  at  Franklin 
and  Nashville,  as  follows: — Eighteen  Confererate  generals  killed, 
wounded  and  captured,  about  fifteen  thousand  prisoners  and  desert- 
ers, seventy-two  pieces  of  artillery,  hundreds  of  wagons,  mules  and 
horses,  thirty  stands  of  colors  and  their  dead  number  over  two  thous- 
and, or  a  total  loss  of  about  one-third  of  Hood's  army  and  equipment. 
The  completeness  of  our  victory,  all  things  considered,  has  not  been 
equalled  in  battle  since  the  beginning  of  the  war.  Hood's  army  is  de- 
stroyed for  further  service  in  the  west  and  the  war  outside  of  Vir- 
ginia is  practically  ended.  We  have  prevented  the  enemy  from  mak- 
ing the  threatened  northern  raid  and  General  Thomas  has  saved  Sher- 
man from  criticism  for  leaving  fragments  of  his  army  to  contend  with 
the  same  forces  that  have  been  fighting  Sherman's  entire  army  during 
the  past  eight  months.  Yet  while  floundering  through  darkness,  mud 
and  mire  for  three  days  and  doing  all  that  human  effort  could  do  to 
destroy  Hood's  army,  we  are  told  that  General  Hallock  from  his  easy 
chair  in  Washington  is  urging  Thomas  with  despatches  to  make 
greater  effort  against  the  enemy,  and  Grant  criticises  Thomas  for  not 
defeating  the  enemy  at  Franklin  or  Columbia. 

Boys  now  vote  "Pap"  Thomas  the  greatest  general  in  the  army 
and  as  freely  "cuss"  Hallock,  while  the  oracles  who  have  a  grudge 
against  Sherman  for  "deserting  us"  are  critcising  the  latter  general 
with  his  army  of  sixty  thousand  for  allowing  ten  thousand  rebel  sol- 
diers to  escape  at  Savannah,  Georgia. 

Since  the  beginning  of  the  war  all  eyes  and  interests  seem  to  be 
centered  upon  operations  in  Virginia  and  along  the  Potomac  river. 
Washington  and  Richmond  being  the  two  vital  points  aimed  for  by 
the  contending  armies,  the  capture  of  either  city  might  determine  the 
result  of  the  war.  But  Washington  is  now  safe;  no  more  raids  will 
be  attempted  north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  for  the  enemy  is  not 
far  distant  from  that  "last  ditch."  It  is  quite  natural  that  military 
operations  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington  and  other  large  cities  where 

156 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

newspapers  and  means  for  obtaining  news  are  more  plentiful  should 
receive  attention  and  be  given  more  prominent  places  in  history  than 
operations  at  distant  points.  To  one  who  has  not  carefully  noted  re- 
sults of  battles  it  may  be  surprising  to  find  that  more  Confederate 
soldiers  was  killed  within  six  hours  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  than  were 
killed  during  the  first  year  of  the  war  on  the  Potomac;  more  than  at 
both  battles  of  Bull  Run  and  more  than  during  the  three  months  siege 
of  Vicksburg  or  three  days  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  and  almost 
half  the  number  killed  during  the  entire  Atlanta  campaign,  and  the 
four  days  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  where  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  men  were  engaged.  During  the  Franklin  battle  the 
rebel  losses  were  over  six  thousand  or  at  the  rate  of  one  thousand 
each  hour,  three  hundred  of  whom  were  killed  each  hour,  yet  the  tug  of 
war  only  occupied  about  three  hours  time.  History  of  the  war  gives 
the  following  losses  in  killed  suffered  by  the  Confederates  in  the 
principal  battles: — Fredericksburg,  three  days,  1,150;  both  battles  of 
Bull  Run,  two  days  961,  Chancellorsville,  three  days,  1,581 ;  Winches- 
ten  days,  1,000,  Cold  Harbeor,  two  days,  1,200;  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
ter,  two  days,  850!  Wilderness,  two  days,  2,000  around  Spotsylvania, 
three  days,  1.100;  Vicksburg,  three  months,  1,413;  Franklin  Tenn.,  six 
hours,  1,750. 

Note — The  following  letter  written  by  a  Confederate  soldier  to  a 
friend  of  the  Nineteenth  Ohio,  both  of  whom  were  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Franklin,  gives  a  vivid  description  of  his  experience  and 
observation  while  assaulting  the  "Yankee"  line  at  this  battle: — 

"We  pushed  the  Yankees  closely  until  they  come  to  the  Harpeth 
river  at  Franklin  and  were  so  close  to  their  forces  that  they  dare  not 
attempt  to  cross  the  river  for  fear  of  losing  not  only  their  wagon 
train  but  their  army.  The  Yankees  formed  a  battle  line  across  the 
neck  of  land  formed  by  the  winding  river,  their  flanks  resting  on  the 
river.  Their  center  was  a  low  hill  where  a  couple  of  batteries  stood 
for  action.  We  were  on  the  ground  early  in  the  morning  and  the 
Yankee's  had  just  begun  to  break  ground  for  entrenchments.  We 
could  see  their  entire  line  and  judge  correctly  of  their  number  and 
found  that  we  outnumbered  them  two  to  one.  It  was  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  before  our  disposition  of  troops  for  the  assault  on  the 
Yankees  was  made.  *  *  *  *  From  the  position  I  was  in  I 
could  plainly  see  the  Yankee  line  and  it  seemed  to  be  deserted,  yet 
now  and  then  a  head  or  a  man  would  appear  above  the  works  or  an 
artilleryman  would  crouch  behind  a  gun  and  gaze  in  our  direction. 
We  were  formed  for  the  assault  and  the  plan  of  battle  was  to  launch 
several  columns  against  the  Yankee  line  and  endeavor  to  break  it  at 
different  points,  while  the  real  attack  was  to  be  made  on  the  little 
hill  where  the  batteries  stood.  All  was  ready.  Our  artillery  went 
into  action  and  our  columns  moved  forward.  The  Yankee  pickets  in 
front  of  our  lines  arose  from  the  ground  and  fired  once  then  ran  for 
their  earthworks  from  where  rifles  fall  in  a  horizontal  line.  We  now 
scream  out  the  charging  yell  and  the  Yankee  artillerymen  spring  to 
their  guns  We  instinctively  pull  down  our  hat  brims  as  tho  to  pro- 
tect our  faces  and  dash  forward  upon  their  lines.  Instantly  we  are  met 
by  a  storm  of  bullets  and  canister  that  cause  us  to  stagger  as  our 
dead  and  wounded  comrades  fall  against  us.  We  waver  badly  then 
gather  ourselves  and  push  on  firing  as  we  go.  The  powder  smoke 
hung  on  the  field  and  through  rifts  of  this  we  could  see  the  Yankee 

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gunners  springing  nimbly  to  and  from  their  Napoleon  guns.  The 
responsive  fiash  of  these  guns  as  the  lanyards  were  pulled  would  be 
followed  by  the  rip  of  canister  as  it  flew  past  and  through  our  ranks 
cracking  men's  bones  as  pipestems  and  knocking  brave  men  dead  with 
great  holes  in  their  bodies.  The  zip,  zip  zip  of  flying  balls  was  a 
steady  hum  as  though  the  empty  cylinders  of  countless  threshing  ma- 
chine were  revolving  at  full  speed  all  around  and  near  us.  *  *  * 

Steadily  the  Yankees,  who  had  to  hold  their  line  or  take  to  the 
water,  load  and  fire  while  our  men  are  falling  by  hundreds.  We  stag- 
gered on  through  storms  of  bullets  and  canister  but  had  not  reached 
the  Union  line.  Then  we  heard  exultant  shouts  on  our  left  and 
through  the  drifting  smoke  caught  sight  of  our  battle  flags  planted 
on  the  Yankee  breastworks  on  the  hill  and  we  can  see  gray  clad  men 
climb  over  the  works  and  disappear.  We  now  redouble  our  efforts  to 
take  the  line  in  front  of  us  but  its  fire  did  not  slacken  a  particle,  its 
defenders  paid  no  attention  to  the  disaster  that  had  overtaken  their 
center  and  as  we  drew  closer,  the  parapet  reddened  in  the  smoke  and 
the  fire  of  rifles  resembled  the  fury  of  hell.  Then  loud  above  the 
battle's  roar  sounds  the  charging  cheer  of  Yankee  troops  at  our  left 
and  we  know  that  our  men  had  been  called  upon  to  make  good  their 
success  by  meeting  a  counter  charge  of  Yankee  reserves.  Could  they 
withstand  it?  Promptly  came  the  answer.  There  was  a  solid  crash 
of  Yankee  musketry  from  that  portion  of  the  line  and  soon  the  rem- 
nants of  the  victories  Confederates  swarmed  out  of  the  captured 
works  and  ran  to  cover.  Instantly  the  re-captured  works  were  man- 
ned by  a  line  of  blue  coated  infantry  who  shot  down  the  flying  Con- 
federates by  scores.  On  our  part  of  the  line  we  press  on  toward  the 
Yankee  works  until  some  of  our  men  fall  in  the  ditch  and  we  can  see 
the  eyes  of  Yankees  as  they  look  over  their  rifle  pits,  their  faces  pal- 
lid, their  jaws  set  and  their  eyes  blazing  with  battle  light.  I  never 
before  saw  such  rapid  handling  of  rifles  and  artillery.  It  seemed  to 
me  that  I  could  hear  No.  1  of  the  artillery  impatiently  tap  with  his 
sponge  staff  on  the  blackened  muzzle  of  the  brass  gun  as  he  called 
for  canister,  and  more  canister,  and  still  more  canister.  We  were 
sufficiently  near  to  feel  the  wind  of  the  discharge  of  the  Yankee  guns. 
I  look  back  and  see  our  dead  in  winrows  and  the  wounded  staggering 
over  the  field,  falling  as  they  come  to  each  other  for  aid.  We  hesi- 
tate, realizing  that  we  cannot  carry  the  works.  We  stagger  a  few 
feet  nearer  the  Yankee  lines  firing  wildly  as  we  go  only  to  be  scorch- 
ed by  the  hot  breath  of  Yankee  cannon  and  rifle.  One  third  of  our 
(Reynolds)  division  is  killed  and  wounded.  Stunned,  bewildered  and 
horribly  disappointed  we  gather  into  protected  place  and  are  speedily 
reformed.  We  are  allowed  to  rest  a  short  time.  Again  we  are  form- 
ed into  a  charging  column.  Our  officers  briefly  explain  the  necessity 
of  carrying  the  Yankee  works  and  we  swear  to  take  them  or  die 
in  the  attempt.  We  rush  to  the  assault  again  and  are  again  met  by  a 
fire  the  heat  of  which  warp  us  out  of  line.  It  seemed  to  me  that  the 
air  was  so  full  of  bullets  that  I  could  have  caught  scores  of  them  sim- 
ply grabbing  on  either  side  or  above  me.  We  advance  close  to  the 
works  and  again  break  and  fly  to  cover.  It  is  now  growing  dark  and 
still  the  battle-torn  Confederates  are  formed  into  charging  columns 
and  launched  against  the  Yankee  works.  We  advance  stumbling  over 
our  dead  and  wounded  the  latter  shrieking  as  we  trod  on  mangled 
limbs  and  body.  Powder  smoke  hangs  over  the  field  in  clouds  which 
reflect  the  lurid  fire  that  blazes  along  the  Yankee  lines  at  eight 
o'clock  and  at  nine  thirty  and  we  are  still  fighting,  still  dying,  still 
trampling  our  dead  and  wounded  into  the  earth.  Then  we  give  it  up. 
We  have  made  five  charges.  Pat.  Cleburne's  men  have  made  six 
charges  and  he  falls  while  leading  the  last.  „ 

Every  general  officer  in  the  army  of  the  Confederate  excepting 
Hood  was  killed,  wounded  or  captured.  Our  losses  are  up  in  the 

158 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

thousands.  We  retire  out  of  range  of  the  Yankee  guns,  stack  our  arms 
and  lay  down.  All  night  our  wounded  comrades  are  crawling  off  the 
grounds  and  seek  comfort  and  rest  and  water  among  their  unhurt 
brothers.  Men  with  one  leg  trailing  on  the  earth  behind  them,  others 
with  shattered  arms  or  broken  shoulders  or  torn  entrails,  or  ghastly 
flesh  wounds,  or  with  smashed  jaws  or  eyes  shot  out,  would  crawl, 
walk  or  be  helped  off  the  field.  These  maimed  and  suffering  com- 
rades sink  down  and  murmur.  "I  am  glad  to  get  here,  it  was  hell  it- 
self, boys;  it  was  hell,"  and  some  sink  to  sleep  that  knows  no  wak- 
ing." *  *  * 

This  soldier's  description  of  the  struggle  and  blood  stained  acres 
of  his  dead  and  wounded  comrades  is  a  striking  pen  picture  of  the 
horrors  of  war  and  the  price  they  are  paying  to  sustain  a  false  ideal — 
a  cause  so  evidently  unjust — to  gratify  the  ambition  of  designing 
traitors — a  cause  in  which  many  of  these  victims  did  not  sincerely 
believe  worthy  of  defense  and  for  which  they  are  not  responsible,  and 
which  has  divided  states,  friends  and  families. 

Sherman's  brief  and  fitting  definition  of  war  has  been  brought 
home  to  these  brave  but  misguided  boys.  Even  if  successful  in  dis- 
rupting the  Union  and  establishing  human  bondage  they  have  nothing 
to  gain  except  the  satisfaction  that  comes  to  the  conquerer.  Many 
of  these  boys  who  are  giving  their  services  and  lives  are  classed  in 
the  south  as  poor  whites  with  social  rank  and  opportunities  for  im- 
provement but  little  above  slaves  and  who  are  unwittingly  making 
this  sacrifice  to  continue  and  strengthen  a  system  of  aristocracy  that 
would  bring  only  servitude  to  them  and  their  posterity. 

It  now  looks  as  though  we  are  settled  down  for  a  rest,  but  one 
never  can  tell.  Weather  is  bad  and  we  are  fixing  up  our  quarters  hop- 
ing to  make  them  more  comfortable.  With  an  old  camp  kettle  and  a 
few  joints  of  rain  water  conductory  taken  from  an  abandoned  home, 
we  rig  up  a  little  heater  in  our  living  room.  Fence  rails  are  plenti- 
ful, well  seasoned  and  make  excellent  fuel.  We  keep  up  roaring  fires 
and  slowly  revolve  our  bodies  absorbing  the  heat  on  front,  rear  and 
both  flanks  while  planters  watch  their  fences  go  up  in  smoke. 

On  December  29,  accompanied  by  a  comrade  we  go  out  to  take  a 
view  of  the  landscape  and  during  our  travels  scare  from  a  brush  heap 
a  bunch  of  land  sharks,  called  hogs  by  natives.  My  aim  is  as  poor  as 
the  animal  for  he  stands  "edgeway"  and  I  miss  him.  Partner  does 
better  and  brings  down  the  game.  The  shark's  "innards"  are  soon  re- 
moved when  we  string  the  carcass  on  a  rail  and  each  taking  an  end  of 
the  rail  we  keep  step  until  camp  is  reached.  Fumes  from  frying  pork 
soon  attract  notice  among  members  of  the  company  who  gather 
around  and  get  their  rations  while  the  carcass  lasts.  It's  a  feast  or 
famine  with  the  men  in  ranks  with  the  famine  end  largely  in  the  ma- 
jority. On  December  30  and  31  the  weather  is  stormy  until  late  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  thirty-first.  On  the  last  day  of  the  year  we  draw 
rations,  are  mustered  for  pay,  and  receive  our  first  mail  since  the  bat- 
£le  of  -Nashville. 

This  closes  my  diary  for  1864.  I  find  the  following  memoranda 
of  clothing  drawn  during  the  year,  viz:  Three  pairs  of  pants  costing 

159 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

$3.03  pair;  four  pairs  of  drawers  costing  65  cents  per  pair;  three  shirts 
at  80  cents  each ;  seven  pairs  of  shoes  at  $2.05  per  pair ;  two  overcoats 
at  $6.71  each;  three  pairs  socks  60  cents  each;  one  blouse  $1.50;  one 
canteen  40  cents  and  one  haversack  50  cents.  This  does  not  cover  the 
amount  of  clothing  used  during  the  year.  Clothing  cannot  always  be 
had  when  needed  and  must  be  bought  or  "confiscated  along  the  way. 
We  are  allowed  fifty-two  dollars  a  year  for  clothing;  all  drawn  in 
excess  of  this  is  taken  from  our  pay  and  if  the  full  allowance  is  not 
drawn  we  are  paid  the  difference.  From  my  pay  during  the  year  one 
hundred  and  forty  seven  dollars  has  been  sent  home,  now  worth  sixty 
dollars  in  gold.  Since  entering  service  the  pay  of  private  soldiers  has 
been  increased  three  dollars  per  month  and  five  dollars  increase  for 
non-commissioned  officers.  The  few  married  men  in  the  company 
cannot  support  their  families  on  the  pay  they  are  getting.  It  now 
takes  one  day's  pay  to  buy  the  wife  a  yard  of  calico  or  muslin  and 
about  one  week's  pay  to  buy  her  a  pair  of  shoes. 

Our  pay  has  increased  about  twenty  per  cent  while  supplies  for 
the  family  has  increased  from  one  to  two  hundred  per  cent.  Many 
of  these  soldiers  families  must  receive  assistance  from  friends  or  Aid 
societies  organized  throughout  the  north  during  the  past  year,  while 
army  contractors  who  manufacture  "kinnekenick,"  shoddy  uniforms 
and  providing  other  supplies  are  reaping  a  financial  harvest.  War 
time  seems  to  be  the  open  season  for  crooks  to  prey  upon  the  govern- 
ment while  Uncle  Sam's  treasury  is  being  raided  from  many  angles. 
It  is  reported  that  one  of  these  contractors  made  money  enough  in 
one  year  to  buy  an  English  duke  for  his  favorite  daughter. 


161 


CHAPTER  IX. 


CLIFFTON,  TENN.,  TO  WILMINGTON,  N.  C 


January  2,  1865  finds  us  on  the  march  headed  in  a  westerly  direc 
tion  toward  the  Tennessee  river.  This  march  leads  us  through  Mt. 
Pleasant  and  Waynesboro,  Tenn.  We  ford  Buffalo  river  and  a  num- 
ber of  other  streams  while  passing  through  a  rough  and  wild  region 
of  country  timbered  with  scrub  oak  and  mountain  pine,  and  camp  at 
Cliffton,  Tenn.,  a  small  village  on  the  Tennessee  river.  We  are  now 
informed  that  as  soon  as  transports  arrive  the  army  will  be  trans- 
ferred to  the  Eastern  department  and  again  unite  with  Sherman's 
army  at  some  point  on  the  Atlantic  coast  and  there  finish  up  the  job. 

The  country  surrounding  this  village  is  very  rough  and  sparsely 
settled.  In  these  hills,  hollows  and  caves,  bushwhackers  find  secure 
hiding  places.  Whenever  an  opportunity  presents  itself  these  out- 
laws murder  stragglers  from  the  Union  army  and  citizens  suspected 
of  loyalty  to  the  Union.  A  few  days  after  our  arrival  here  one  among 
the  few  loyal  citizens  of  this  vicinity  appears  in  our  quarters  and  in- 
forms the  commanding  officers  that  bushwackers  have  been  after 
some  of  our  stragglers  and  that  he  has  two  of  these  men  secreted 
near  his  home.  A  detail  of  two  from  each  company,  with  two  cor- 
porals, and  myself  as  acting  sergeant,  is  made  and  placed  under  com- 
mand of  Captain  Ford.  After  getting  directions  of  the  route  to  be 
taken  we  start  down  the  river  and  after  a  march  of  a  few  miles  we 
camp  for  the  night.  Before  daylight  on  the  following  day  the  march 
is  continued  with  five  men  and  myself  as  advanced  guard.  A  heavy 
rain  now  sets  in  and  we  become  thoroughly  soaked,  but  continue  on, 
fording  a  stream  in  the  meantime.  Soon  after  fording  this  stream  a 
horseman  is  seen  turning  a  sharp  bend  in  the  road  about  forty  rods 
distant.  He  is  dressed  in  a  blue  army  overcoat,  probably  taken  from 
the  body  of  some  victim,  with  a  gun  swinging  over  his  shoulder.  Tak- 
ing the  situation  at  a  glance  our  guns  are  leveled  on  Mr.  Bushwhacker 
and  surrender  is  demanded.  Mr.  Bushwhacker  quickly  drops  flat  on 
his  horse  and  wheels  about  as  we  fire  but  he  is  gone  and  we  see  him 
passing  over  the  next  hill  as  we  reach  the  bend  in  the  road.  When 
our  guns  are  fired  the  horse's  tail  and  heels  go  up  in  the  air  and  it's 
quite  probably  the  innocent  horse  receives  the  lead  intended  for  the 
outlaw.  While  reloading  our  guns  the  detachment  comes  up  when 
the  captain  orders  us  forward  again  and  to  closely  watch  our  flanks. 
We  soon  hear  sounds  of  horns  blowing  in  the  hills  and  correctly 
guess  this  to  be  a  call  for  the  assembly  of  the  bushwhackers.  After 
marching  a  few  miles  it  seems  that  we  should  be  nearing  the  place 

162 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

described  by  the  old  gentlemen  and  we  await  for  the  detachment  to 
come  up.  Here  the  captain  orders  me  to  visit  a  cabin  setting  back 
some  distance  from  the  road  and  to  inquire  the  distance  to  the  church 
and  grave  yard  where  we  are  to  meet  the  stragglers  and  their  pro- 
tector. On  entering  the  cabin  two  old  women  and  an  old  man  who 
have  probably  watched  our  movements  appear  to  be  much  alarmed 
and  ignore  all  questions  for  a  time  but  finally  after  looking  me  over 
and  failing  to  see  hoofs  or  horns  they  show  a  willingness  to  talk 
and  for  the  first  time,  perhaps  behold  a  blue  bellied  Yank  and  are 
surprised  to  find  that  he  looks  like  a  human.  Returning  to  the  de- 
tachment we  again  move  forward  and  in  a  short  time  reach  the  old 
chapel  and  find  our  friend  awaiting  us.  After  a  short  consultation 
with  the  captain  the  latter  orders  me  to  take  the  squad  to  a  certain 
place  and  there  leave  them  while  I  enter  the  grave  yard  and  give  a 
call  agreed  upon  between  the  stragglers  and  their  benefactor.  It  is 
some  time  before  the  stragglers  respond  but  finally,  like  Lazarus  they 
come  forth  from  the  sunken  graves  and  thick  brambles  of  the  old 
neglected  burying  grounds,  with  grateful  expression  on  their  hag- 
gard and  begrimed  faces.  We  are  now  ready  to  return  and  are  cau- 
tioned by  our  old  friend  who  states  that  we  will  likely  be  attacked 
on  our  return,  for  the  signal  we  heard  was,  as  we  predicted,  a  call  to 
assemble.  He  informs  us  that  these  bushwhackers  are  a  cowardly 
gang  who  will  not  attack  unless  they  greatly  outnumber  us,  or  may 
fire  at  long  range,  then  scatter  and  secrete  themselves  in  hills  and 
caves  We  then  lunch  and  start  on  our  return  in  the  same  order  of 
march  observed  during  the  forenoon.  After  marching  a  few  miles 
and  while  passing  through  a  deep  gully  fringed  on  both  sides  with  a 
heavy  growth  of  cedar  along  steep  hill  sides  the  detachment  is  fired 
upon  from  the  south  side  of  the  road  wounding  one  man  in  his  head 
but  not  seriously.  The  volley  is  fired  at  short  range  but  the  high 
elevation  held  by  the  outlaws  and  intervening  undergrowth  of  bushes 
affords  some  protection.  Our  advance  guard  pass  unmolested.  As 
soon  as  the  volley  is  fired  this  advance  guard  turns  quickly  and 
catching  a  glimpse  of  the  enemy  through  the  bushes  we  give  them 
six  charges  at  long  range  while  the  detachment  with  lusty  yells  de- 
ploy and  scramble  up  the  hillside  in  pursuit  of  the  outlaws.  Before 
they  have  advanced  far  the  cowardly  gang  mount  their  horses  and  a 
force  about  equal  our  own  is  seen  making  fast  time  until  they  dis- 
appear in  the  hills  and  timber.  The  wounded  head  is  cared  for  and 
our  march  is  continued.  Coming  to  the  stream  of  water  we  crossed 
in  the  morning  we  find  it  swollen  to  a  rushing  torrent  and  how  to 
cross  is  a  puzzling  question,  for  the  stream  is  without  bridges  and 
too  deep  to  ford.  With  bushwhackers  hovering  around  and  our  ad- 
vance apparently  cut  off  the  outlook  is  not  pleasing.  After  discuss- 
ing the  situation  a  short  time  and  roundly  cussing  the  stragglers  for 
getting  us  in  this  scrape,  a  squad  is  sent  along  the  stream  in  search 
of  a  crossing.  We  are  soon  called  by  the  men  below  who  find  a  large 
tree  across  the  channel.  For  a  distance  of  six  feet  or  more  a  torrent 

163 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

of  water  is  rushing  over  the  butt  of  this  tree,  so  by  holding  to  each 
other  we  feel  our  way  along  the  submerged  portion  of  the  tree  until 
the  top  is  reached  where  we  wade  nearly  waist  deep  to  the  opposite 
shore.  A  few  too  timid  to  walk  though  the  rushing  waters  sit  astride 
the  tree  and  with  bodies  half  submerged  work  their  way  across.  One 
falls  into  the  stream  and  is  rescued  by  a  comrade  who  quickly  drops 
astride  the  log  and  reaches  out  his  musket  which  is  seized  by  the 
struggling  soldier.  It  is  well  for  us  that  the  bushwhackers  are  too 
cowardly  to  follow  for  a  half  dozen  men  taking  a  position  under 
cover  could  have  picked  us  off  while  crossing  the  stream.  We  are 
all  safely  landed  and  then  take  turns  abusing  a  pair  of  very  submis- 
sive stragglers,  all  of  which  seems  to  be  enjoyed  by  Captain  Ford 
though  he  has  nothing  to  say.  About  every  regiment  has  its  stragglers 
who  make  a  practice  of  falling  out  of  ranks  and  in  some  manner  evade 
the  rear  guard  and  get  back  to  supply  wagons  or  visit  plantations, 
returning  to  their  commands  sometime  during  the  night  in  time  to 
dodge  guard  duty,  unless  they  fall  into  hands  of  bushwhackers. 

Soon  after  crossing  the  stream  we  pass  out  into  a  more  open 
country  to  a  settlement  or  hamlet  of  log  cabins  and  cultivated  fields 
where  we  stop  for  a  short  rest  and  in  meantime  visit  a  number  of  these 
cabins  but  find  no  men  in  the  neighborhood.  From  evidence  gathered 
here  we  conclude  that  this  settlement  is  the  abiding  place  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  men  who  have  been  on  our  trail  during  the  day.  We  now 
proceed  to  help  ourselves  and  for  a  short  time  the  squealing  of  pigs, 
squawks  of  ducks  and  squall  of  chickens  mingled  with  pleadings  and 
denunciations  of  women  echoes  through  the  surrounding  hill.  The 
stragglers  are  placed  on  extra  duty  and  loaded  with  pork,  poultry 
and  other  "contraband  of  war"  and  our  march  is  continued  to  camp 
with  chickens  and  ducks  swinging  from  muzzles  of  guns,  and  but  lit- 
tle the  worse  of  our  adventure. 


BACK  TO  OHIO 


We  remain  in  this  camp  until  January  16,  1865  when  transports 
and  gunboats  arrive  to  convey  and  convoy  the  Twenty  Third  Army 
Corps  to  some  other  field  of  operation.  Here  our  regiment  with  the 
Sixteenth  Kentucky  board  the  steamer  "Swallow"  and  after  a  long 
and  tedious  journey  down  the  Tennessee  river  we  enter  the  Ohio  at 
Paducah,  Ky.,  passing  Ft.  Henry  on  the  way,  then  up  the  Ohio 
through  drifts  of  floating  ice  that  threatens  to  wreck  our  boats,  and 
arrive  at  Cincinnati  on  January  22.  On  January  23,  we  leave  the  boats 
and  after  an  absence  of  two  years  and  five  months  our  regiment  again 
sets  foot  on  its  native  soil.  Here  the  Corps  is  loaded  into  and  on  top 
of  freight  cars  for  a  long  mid-winter  ride  over  a  snow  clad  country 
and  our  journey  is  continued  eastward  through  Columbus,  Newark, 
Zanesville  and  other  cities.  At  all  stopping  places  the  good  people 
greet  us  with  cheers  and  ample  supplies  of  hot  coffee  and  provisions, 

164 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

all  anxious  to  do  for  our  comfort  and  pleasure,  all  of  which  is  fully 
appreciated  by  boys  who  are  suffering  with  cold,  especially  we  who 
quartered  on  the  "hurricane"  decks.  Sleighing  is  fine  and  people  are 
out  waiting  at  crossings  with  cheers  and  waving  of  flags  as  we  pass 
by,  and  flags  are  seen  waving  from  porches  and  windows  along  the 
route.  At  a  number  of  stopping  places  our  band  is  giving  the  citizens 
samples  of  their  music  and  in  return  are  feasting  on  good  eatables 
provided  by  these  citizens. 

The  route  we  are  taking  through  the  state  carry  members  of  the 
regiment  near  their  homes  in  Stark  and  Columbiana  counties.  Boys 
are  trying  to  get  ten  day  furloughs  to  visit  their  homes,  which  are 
not  only  refused  but  guards  are  placed  at  each  car  and  instructed  to 
see  that  all  are  kept  aboard,  yet  after  passing  Zanesville  and  until 
the  Ohio  river  is  reached  at  Bellaire,  twenty-five  or  more  boys  "slip 
the  halter"  and  at  the  next  roll  call  are  neither  "present  nor  account- 
ed for."  Among  these  breachy  soldiers  are  five  members  of  company  "B* 
who  quietly  evade  a  not  over  vigilant  guard  and  without  bidding  their 
comrades  goodby,  leave  the  train  at  Bellaire,  O.,  and  start  up  the  rail- 
road leading  north,  taking  their  arms  and  equipment.  On  arriving  at 
Bridgeport  they  find  a  warm  corner  at  one  of  the  furnaces  for  the 
remainder  of  the  night.  They  also  find  a  deep  snow  and  the  weather 
so  cold  they  almost  wish  themselves  back  on  the  train  with  the 
boys.  Fully  armed  and  accoutered  they  proceed  on  their  way  early  on 
the  following  morning  heading  in  the  direction  of  Cadiz,  Ohio  and 
after  marching  over  snowy  and  slippery  hills  they  reach  this  city 
late  in  the  evening.  Here  the  citizens  thinking  these  soldiers  are  out 
on  some  special  duty  accord  them  fine  treatment  and  quarters  at  the 
hotel  is  provided.  After  supper  young  people  of  the  city  call  and  in- 
vite them  to  attend  a  dance.  They  accept  this  invitation  but  when 
pressed  to  take  partners  and  participate  in  the  "whirl"  they  balk  and 
excuse  themselves  with  a  variety  of  lies.  The  boys  do  not  want  to 
confess  to  these  clean  and  fashionably  dressed  young  people  that 
they  haven't  had  a  change  of  shirts  or  socks  for  two  weeks,  more  or 
less,  neither  can  they  recall  the  date  of  their  last  bath.  A  trip  of  a 
thousand  miles  or  more  on  steamboat  and  smoky  freight  cars  has  left 
its  mark  on  their  clothing.  While  the  boys  greatly  admired  these 
friendly  and  handsome  young  ladies  they  feel  timid  about  leaving 
finger  marks  on  their  tidy  waists.  Getting  into  society  once  more  is 
a  pleasing  sensation  even  while  occupying  the  position  of  wall  flow- 
ers, much  more  so  than  the  sensation  occasionally  felt  crawling  over 
their  ribs.  They  suspect  that  if  these  friendly  young  ladies  were 
aware  of  the  latter  sensation  they  would  quickly  gather  up  their  be- 
longings and  beaus  and  leave  the  hall.  On  returning  to  the  hotel 
they  are  offered  rooms  but  these  are  refused  believing  that  they 
could  not  rest  on  beds  of  this  kind  and  not  caring  to  leave  remem- 
brances, the  boys  prefer  to  bunk  down  in  the  baggage  room.  On  the 
following  morning  a  good  breakfast  is  served,  haversacks  replen- 
ished and  on  coming  from  the  dining  room  a  two-horse  sled  bedded 

165 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

with  straw  is  found  waiting  to  carry  them  to  Carrollton.  From  here 
the  boys  march  to  the  home  of  one  of  the  squad  near  Minerva  where 
they  stay  over  night  and  on  the  following  day  the  remaining  four 
march  northward  a  few  miles,  then  separate  each  to  his  home.  After 
a  visit  of  ten  days  they  all  start  on  their  return  to  the  regiment  with 
fear  and  trembling  and  on  arrival  are  greatly  surprised  and  relieved 
when  placed  on  duty,  for  all  expected  punishment.  But  to  punish  all 
these  boys  seemed  like  too  much  of  an  undertaking.  The  war  is 
about  over  and  they  have  all  been  good  soldiers  and  right  up  on  the 
bit  during  near  two  and  a  half  years  of  mighty  hard  thumps  and 
bumps,  so  all  are  forgiven  and  but  little  is  said  about  their  escapade, 
the  offense  is  not  even  being  considered  serious  enough  to  draw  the 
stripes  from  offending  non-commissioned  officers. 

When  the  time  came  to  return  to  the  regiment  three  of  these  boys 
meet  by  appointment  in  the  village  of  Alliance  to  secure  transporta- 
tion to  the  regiment.  Before  visiting  the  office  of  Provost  Mar- 
shal Oliver  they  hold  a  short  rehearsal  at  some  scheduled  spot  there 
to  fix  up  a  line  of  talk  that  will  stand  a  test  of  cross  examination 
should  the  marshal  prove  to  be  over  inquisitive  or  separate  the 
witnesses.  As  Annanias  is  recognized  to  be  the  ranking  officer  and 
prevaricator  in  the  squad,  he  is  given  the  task  of  presenting  the  case 
before  Marshall  Oliver,  and  under  stress  of  circumstances  his  com- 
rades agreed  to  swear  to  any  statement  he  might  make,  but  warn  him 
of  his  well-known  recklessness  at  the  business.  They  knew  when  'Nias 
exercised  proper  caution  he  can  frame  up  a  lie  that  seems  good  to 
any  one  unacquainted  with  his  habits.  Pleased  and  flattered  at  this 
evidence  of  his  superior  skill,  he  leads  the  squads  upon  the  Marshal's 
works,  and  after  saluting  in  approved  military  style,  'Nias  informs 
the  captain  that  during  transfer  of  the  TwentyThird  Army  Corps 
through  the  state  a  number  of  soldiers  were  unavoidably  detained  at 
Bellaire.  On  this  statement  the  accomplished  prevaricator  of  Co.  B 
polishes  up  a  story  that  brings  desirable  results  with  transportation 
and  passes  to  Washington  City. 

It  was  with  serious  misgivings  of  trouble  that  they  entered  the 
captain's  office  not  knowing  whether  they  swould  get  passes  and  trans- 
portation or  arrest  with  transportation  under  guard,  but  the  boys 
brace  up  and  put  on  bold  front  and  are  pleased  to  find  the  captain  in  a 
pleasant  mood,  not  over  inquisitive  and  asking  but  few  embarrassing 
questions,  yet  the  boys  suspected  the  captain  wise  to  the  situation  for 
after  listening  to  'Nias's  string  of  prevarications  a  faint  smile  with  a 
drooping  of  an  eye  lid  is  noticed  as  he  passes  out  the  coveted  doc- 
uments remarking  in  the  meantime  that  the  One  Hundred  Fourth 
regiment  must  have  been  in  a  wreck  down  about  Bellaire  for  he  had 
been  issuing  a  number  of  passes  lately  to  men  belonging  to  this  reg- 
iment. Not  caring  to  enter  into  further  details  of  this  "unavoidable 
detention"  they  hurriedly  salute  Marshal  Oliver  and  go  on  their  way 
rejoicing.  The  boys  get  through  to  Washington  in  due  time  but  find 
the  regiment  has  departed  aboard  boats  for  some  point  in  the  neigh- 

166 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

borhood  of  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.  After  a  few  days  delay  at  Washington 
and  Alexandria  they  secure  transportation  by  boat  to  Wilmington, 
N.  C.  where  the  regiment  is  found. 

January  22,  when  the  regiment  landed  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Corporal  Isaac  Beight  of  North  Benton,  Ohio  is  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital in  the  city.  From  here  he  is  sent  to  a  hospital  at  Wheeling, 
W.  Va.  from  where  he  is  discharged  on  June  9,  following 
thirty  months  service  with  the  company.  Now  one  of  the  surviv- 
ors of  the  company. 


AGAIN  ON  THE  FRONT 


During  the  absence  of  the  boys  the  Twenty  Third  Corps  con- 
tinues its  journey  eastward,  passing  through  Cumberland  and  Harp- 
er's Ferry  and  down  the  Potomac  river  to  Washington  City.  Here 
the  Corps  goes  into  camp  on  the  Capital  grounds  and  after  this  long 
trip  by  water  and  rail  the  boys  present  a  very  untidy  appearance 
most  shocking  to  the  white  gloved  and  collared  patriots  of  the  Poto- 
mac. Yes,  they  elevate  their  noses  at  us  westerners  whom  they  are 
calling  "Georgia  woodticks."  During  our  stay  here  these  white 
collared  and  brass  bespangled  patrols  meet  with  a  few  adventures 
with  Georgia  woodticks  they  will  not  soon  forget. 

On  January  28,  our  forces  cross  on  pontoon  bridges  and  march  to 
Alexandria,  Va.,  where  quarters  are  found  in  government  stables, 
comfortable  quarter  and  a  fitting  place  for  woodticks  yet  better  by 
far  than  we  have  been  accustomed  to.  Here  we  visit  the  hotel  where 
Ellsworth  was  murdered  while  placing  the  Stars  and  Stripes  on  the 
building,  also  the  pens,  quarters  and  auction  block  where  slaves  were 
driven  and  sold  like  cattle  by  auctioneers.  By  a  friendly  citizen  we 
are  shown  in  the  Masonic  Hall  and  the  chair  occupied  by  Washington 
while  master  of  the  lodge,  and  the  church  building  and  the  pew  once 
occupied  by  our  first  president. 

While  enroute  from  Cincinnati  to  Washington,  Joseph  Rob- 
inson of  New  Garden,  Ohio,  the  youngest  boy  in  the  company,  is 
taken  sick  with  typhoid  fever.  On  arrival  at  Washington  he  is 
sent  to  the  hospital  where  he  died,  January  29,  and  is  buried  at 
Arlington,  Va.,  after  faithful  service  in  the  ranks  of  nearly  two 
and  one-half  years. 

While  occupying  these  quarters  President  Lincoln,  Secretary 
Seward  and  others  are  holding  a  conference  with  Confederate  officers 
at  Fortress  Monroe  with  a  view  of  ending  the  war.  Camp  is  now 
alive  with  rumors  that  the  war  is  over  or  will  likely  end  in  a  short 
time.  Men  are  standing  in  groups  while  discussing  the  pleasing  news 
and  a  few  may  be  heard  singing  "Sweet  Home." 

Jake  now  appears  in  our  company  quarters  very  much  excited  and 
elated  with  the  glad  tidings  that  the  war  is  over  for  Lincoln  is  now 
"eggnoging"  with  rebel  officers  for  peace  and  terms  of  settlement.  It 
seems  that  during  Jake's  wanderings  through  our  camping  grounds 
he  hears  men  talking  about  negotiations  between  Lincoln  and  others 

167 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

with  Confederate  officials  now  under  way  at  Fortress  Monroe  to 
bring  about  a  settlement  of  the  war.  But  before  reaching  his  quar- 
ters that  one  word  "negotiations"  got  away  from  Jake  before  he  re- 
turned to  deliver  his  message.  This  was  a  new  one  on  Jake  while 
"egg-nog"  is  a  familar  word  and  well  understood  for  they  raise  "em 
over  about  Greentown  where  Jake  lives.  But  Jake  may  have  hit 
upon  the  right  word  after  all,  at  least  the  men  who  were  holding  this 
peace  conference  got  no  further  toward  a  settlement. 

Ritchey  now  fears  he  will  lose  his  steady  job.  He  wants  a  boat 
ride  down  the  Atlantic  coast.  He  has  tramped  over  the  states  of 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Georgia,  Alabama  and  a  little  of  Virginia  and 
now  wants  to  see  the  Carolinas. 

George  Ritchey  enlisted  at  Salem,  Ohio,  one  of  the  boys 
transferred  from  company  "G"  to  pur  company  when  the  regiment 
was  organized.  With  the  exception  of  two  months  sickness  he 
served  his  entire  term  of  enlistment  in  the  ranks  and  was  mus- 
tered out  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

No  word  of  complaint  ever  comes  from  George  and  he  is  always 
ready  to  meet  conditions  as  he  finds  them.  He  cannot  understand 
why  anyone  with  a  good  "steady  job"  and  regular  pay  at  45  cents  per 
day  with  board  and  lodging,  quinine  and  pills,  all  free,  should  com- 
plain." This  kind  of  talk  when  his  comrades  are  tired,  hungry  and 
war  worn  is  irritating  to  the  boys,  yet  George  serves  a  useful  purpose 
and  is  a  type  of  soldier  needed  in  the  ranks  of  every  company.  His 
inclination  to  make  the  best  of  painful  conditions  sometimes  inspires 
others  to  renewed  effort  to  meet  these  conditions.  At  Strawberry 
Plains,  Tenn.;  while  near  the  point  of  perishing  with  cold  and  hunger 
George  might  be  seen  walking  through  our  quarters  fanning  himself 
or  knocking  off  imaginary  flies  and  mosquitos,  or  while  standing, 
about  our  fires  he  is  heard  to  enumerate  the  many  good  dishes  he  ate 
for  breakfast,  while  all  knew  he  was  hungry  enough  to  eat  a  piece  of 
roast  dog  or  cat. 

Poor  old  Dan.  (we  call  him  old  for  he  is  about  thirty)  sits  in 
smoke  trying  to  get  a  little  warmth  from  the  stewing  pine  wood  at 
his  tent.  With  pants  torn  and  burned  away  almost  to  his  knees  he  is 
the  picture  of  misery.  He  is  sick,  despondent,  grouchy  and  grow- 
ing weaker  as  the  days  pass  at  "Valley  Forge."  Ritchey  is  a  mind 
reader  and  takes  in  the  situation  as  he  passes  Dan's  tent  and  believes 
his  remedy  for  Dan's  malady  is  better  than  quinine.  He  quietly  ap- 
proaches and  while  seated  by  Dan  offering  words  of  sympathy  and 
consolation,  applies  his  remedy  by  seizing  Dan's  ear  with  his  teeth  and 
bears  on  until  well  defined  teeth  marks  are  visible  for  some  time. 
With  a  howl  of  pain  Dan  comes  to  life  and  sends  his  frying  pan  and 
a  number  of  cuss  words  after  his  fleeing  persecutor.  Dan  is  rip  roar- 
ing mad  and  his  blood  is  circulating  freely,  his  joints  are  limbered  up 
and  from  that  time  Dan  improves  and  lives  to  see  the  end  of  the 
war.  But  George  is  improvident.  When  rations  are  short  he  will 
eat  a  day's  rations  at  one  sitting  and  then  go  hungry  or  trust  in  prov- 
idence until  rations  are  again  issued.  Trusting  in  providence  could 

168 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

not  be  relied  upon  as  well  on  the  Georgia  campaign  as  it  was  during 
our  first  year  while  guarding  Kentucky  plantations  and  villages. 

While  in  camp  near  Washington  a  number  of  men  belonging  to 
our  division  who  captured  rebel  flags  at  Franklin  and  Nashville  vis- 
ited the  White  House  and  presented  these  flags  to  President  Lincoln. 

The  unfinished  Washington  monument  and  new  Capital  building, 
the  latter  now  under  construction  are  points  of  interest  visited  by 
many  soldiers  during  the  short  time  we  remained  here. 

February  3,  1865  our  brigade  board  the  transport  "Star  of  the 
South"  and  with  a  fleet  of  sixteen  transports  and  convoys  the  Twenty 
Third  Corps  with  horses,  mules,  wagons,  artillery  and  other  army 
equipment  we  steam  down  the  Potomac. river,  meantime  passing  Mt. 
Vernon  and  other  points  of  interest,  enter  Chesapeake  Bay,  then  out 
upon  the  Atlantic  rounding  Cape  Hattaras  and  along  the  Virginia 
and  Carolina  coast,  anchor  off  Cape  Fear  near  Federal  Point  on  Feb- 
ruary 9,  and  soon  after  land  at  Smithville,  N.  C.  Here  the  troops 
remain  a  few  days  meantime  feasting  on  yams  and  oysters  in  addition 
to  the  usual  rations. 

While  rounding  stormy  Hattaras  many  boys  are  afflicted  with 
sea  sickness  and  the  greatest  sufferer  is  Seely.  He  lost  control  over  his 
rations  and  they  won't  stay  down.  He  finally  becomes  so  sick  and  weak- 
ened that  he  stretches  himself  out  on  deck  determined  to  die,  and  de- 
clares that  only  a  watery  grave  will  be  satisfactory  to  him.  To  his 
favorite  comrades  he  wills  his  personal  property,  and  to  the  sharks 
his  body  is  to  be  delivered.  To  the  bugler  who  blows  the  early 
morning  reveille  he  gives  and  bequeaths  all  his  graybacks  to  have 
and  to  hold,  hoping  their  number  may  increase.  (Seely  has  a  vivid 
recollection  of  knapsack  drills  sometimes  inflicted  for  neglect  in 
answering  to  this  early  call.)  But  after  many  hours  of  suffering  he 
declares  he  is  too  sick  to  reach  his  last  breath  and  lives  on  to  suffer. 
Seely  is  a  good  soldier,  but  his  troubles  have  been  many  since  en- 
tering military  service,  and  among  these  are  the  "skinning"  of  mules, 
responding  to  the  early  roll  call,  Ritchey  and  the  oracles.  After  long 
and  diligent  practice  he  can  now  express  his  opinion  of  these  pests 
and  do  the  job  in  fairly  good  English.  Other  sick  boys  on  his  voy- 
age offer  all  their  worldly  possessions  for  enough  dry  land  on  which 
to  erect  a  pup  tent. 


WILMINGTON,  NORTH  CAROLINA 


On  February  18,  our  division  advance  through  cypress  swamps 
and  over  rough  roads  in  the  direction  of  Wilmington,  N.  C.  and  at- 
tack the  enemy  at  Ft.  Anderson  and  with  the  aid  of  a  gun  boat  the 
enemy  is  driven  from  his  works  with  a  loss  in  our  regiment  of  five 
men.  On  the  following  day  our  forces  again  advance  and  find  the 
enemy  entrenched  at  Oldtown  Creek.  The  soldiers  are  well  loaded 


169 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

with  supplies  of  yams  yet  carry  this  precious  food  while  making  an- 
other charge  on  the  enemy  position  which  is  carried  with  a  loss  in 
the  regiment  of  twenty-two  men,  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners  and 
four  pieces  of  artillery,  together  with  a  quantity  of  ammunition  and 
small  arms.  On  February  22,  the  enemy  evacuate  Wilmington  and 
our  forcees  take  possession  of  the  city,  closely  followed  by  trans- 
ports which  tie  up  at  the  wharf. 

On  entering  the  city  we  find  a  large  amount  of  rebel  property 
stored  here  for  export  has  been  set  on  fire  by  the  retreating  enemy. 
Considerable  of  this  property  is  saved  by  our  troops  who  immedi- 
ately go  to  work  extinguishing  flames  probably  saving  the  city  from 
destruction.  This  is  an  important  point  where  blockade  runners  have 
operated  and  the  loss  of  Ft.  Fisher  and  other  points  on  Cape  Fear  is 
keenly  felt  by  the  fast  fading  Confederacy. 

This  also  seems  to  be  headquarters  on  this  continent  for  the  ship- 
ment of  tar,  turpentine  and  resin  for  large  quantities  of  this  merchan- 
dise was  destroyed  by  the  retreating  enemy.  The  great  destruc- 
tion of  cotton,  burning  of  docks  and  transports  that  are  blown  up 
and  sunk  in  the  river  channel  must  have  -entailed  a  loss  to  the  Con- 
federacy and  to  citizens  of  several  million  dollars. 

Among  the  supplies  captured  here  was  a  warehouse  containing 
tobacco,  cigars  and  whiskey.  This  warehouse  is  raided  by  soldiers 
and  soon  emptied  of  its  contents.  Soldiers  now  take  advantage  of 
this  opportunity  to  celebrate  recent  achievements  and  Washington's 
birthday  anniversary  because  we  have  the  whiskey  on  hand  and  no 
way  to  dispose  of  it.  The  only  money  in  circulation  here  is  Confed- 
erate scrip  and  this  is  of  no  value  to  us  and  has  almost  lost  its  pur- 
chasing power  with  the  natives.  Confedeate  money  is  worth  about 
five  cents  on  the  dollar  and  whiskey  is  selling  at  sixty  to  eighty  dol- 
lars per  gallon,  natives  tell  us.  Quinine  is  selling  at  two  hundred 
dollars  an  ounce  and  flour  at  one  fifty  to  two  dollars  per  pound  and 
other  supplies  bringing  about  the  same  ratio  of  inflated  prices.  Con- 
federate money  is  abundant  and  will  remain  plentiful  as  long  as  the 
Confederacy  and  supply  of  paper  holds  out. 

Ritchey  declares  that  whiskey  is  entirely  too  valuable  to  waste 
so  after  a  brief  discussion  he  clears  the  situation  by  proposing  to 
drink  it.  This  proposition  is  favorably  received  and  Ritchey,  who 
always  responds  to  the  call  of  duty,  leads  the  attack  and  finds  hearty 
support  throughout  the  brigade.  But  the  sergeant  and  others  who  be- 
lieve that  Christian  and  military  duties  can  be  worked  along  parellel 
lines  are  so  unpatriotic  as  to  refuse  to  celebrate.  Even  our  devout 
Orderly  now  believes  it  to  be  his  duty  to  join  comrades  in  celebrat- 
ing the  capture  of  the  last  seaport  stronghold.  At  roll  call 
the  Orderly  finds  it  difficult  to  take  the  position  of  a  soldier  and  his 
memory  of  names  seem  scrambled.  He  orders  the  men  in  line  and 
after  calling  the  names  of  a  few  members  he  retires  to  his  tent  with- 
out dismissing  the  company.  A  few  boys  become  so  loud  and  hilar- 

170 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

ious  they  are  ordered  taken  to  the  guardhouse  for  treatment,  while 
oracles  are  making  patriotic  speeches. 

Orderly  and  sergeant  are  of  the  same  religious  faith  but  seem 
to  be  working  at  it  along  different  angles.  "Applied  Christianity"  Or- 
derly contends,  is  not  applicable  in  military  service  and  that  certain 
things  become  necessary  in  performing  military  duty  that  conflict 
with  the  teachings  of  the  Golden  Rule,  and  there  you  are.  But  the 
sergeant  is  a  stickler  for  "first  principles. 

Orderly  and  sergeant  attend  religious  services  together  where 
each  make  frequent  and  fervent  appeals  in  behalf  of  his  sinful  com- 
rade, then  quarrel  more  or  less  during  the  week,  all  because  the  ser- 
geant watches  as  well  as  prays.  Too  much  watching  irritates  the  up- 
to-date  and  progressive  orderly  who  contends  that  the  sergeant  has 
not  been  "ordained  as  his  brother's  keeper." 

The  sergeant  now  call  orderly  to  account  for  the  latter's  aid  in 
disposing  of  this  liquid  "contraband  of  war."  Orderly  stoutly  de- 
nies that  he  was  overloaded  but  the  boys  are  about  all  witnesses  for 
the  prosecution  while  the  defense  is  without  supporting  testimony. 
The  case  is  up  for  argument  between  the  sergeants  and  as  usual  be- 
come warmlike  and  peppery.  Sergeant  now  accuses  the  orderly  of 
adding  the  sin  of  lying  to  that  of  intoxication.  Orderly  now  becomes 
furious  and  shoots  another  hole  in  the  ten  commandments.  Boys 
gather  around  delighted  with  the  entertainment.  "Under  pressure  of 
military  necessity"  says  Orderly  "many  things  that  seem  wrong  are 
justified  in  order  to  put  down  the  rebellion,"  and  again  reminds  the 
sergeant  that  the  latter  is  watching  the  conduct  of  others  while  neg- 
lecting his  own,  or  words  to  that  effect.  But  the  boys  are  deeply  in- 
terested and  all  willingly  lend  a  helping  hand  to  prolong  the  enter- 
tainment. As  a  parting  shot  the  sergeant  informs  orderly  that  the 
latter  cannot  hope  to  suppress  the  rebellion  by  creating  a  whiskey 
famine  in  the  south,  adding  that  "military  necessity"  demands  that 
one  occupying  the  position  of  orderly  sergeant  should  set  a  good  ex- 
ample before  the  boys.  Both  the  orderly  and  sergeant  make  free  to 
reprimand  boys  for  bad  behavior  and  this  fact  deepens  our  interest 
in  these  entertainments.  Both  are  ever  watchful  of  the  conduct  of 
others  and  in  the  main  are  exemplary  men  and  dutiful  soldiers  and 
never  inquisitive  when  boys  divide  delicacies  sometimes  obtained  in 
questionable  ways.  Through  inconsistent,  perhaps,  the  sergeants  are 
anything  but  indiscreet. 

Tobacco  and  cigars  are  a  drug  in  the  market  for  all  who  cared 
for  the  smokers  and  chewers  have  a  supply  but  the  whiskey  is  dispos- 
ed of  in  a  few  hours  after  the  warehouse  is  raided.  Grabb  has  been 
working  hard  to  dispose  of  his  stock  in  trade  but  business  is  slow 
though  he  is  offering  tempting  inducements.  Grabb  is  the  company 
tightwad  to  whom  a  ten  cent  scrip  looks  almost  as  large  as  a  town  lot. 
His  strong  characteristic  is  to  look  sharp  after  the  interest  of  Grabb, 
and  as  a  side  issue  he  fills  the  position  of  company  peddler  who  buys 
and  sells,  never  forgetting  to  add  a  liberal  profit.  He  has  tramped 

171 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

over  the  entire  camp  ground  trying  to  dispose  of  his  tobacco  and 
cigars  but  business  is  slow.  During  his  absence  the  boys  aid  him  in 
this  work  by  stealing  a  portion  of  his  stock  only  to  hear  Grabb 
speak  his  piece  when  the  theft  is  discovered.  Yet,  they  say  Grabb 
is  unselfish  and  generous,  In  a  way,  for  anything  he  can't  eat,  carry  or 
sell  he  willingly  divides  with  the  boys.  He  is  as  diligent  in  the  per- 
formance of  duty  as  he  is  in  gathering  scrip,  for  during  his  two  years 
and  ten  months  service  he  has  never  missed  a  "trick"  on  duty  or 
drawn  a  single  does  of  quinine. 

Wilmington  is  a  city  of  sandy  unpaved  streets  and  is  found  al 
most  deserted  by  its  white  inhabitants,  they  leaving  the  place  in  pos- 
session of  old  slaves  with  their  women  and  children.  Smouldering 
ruins  of  buildings,  also  cotton  and  other  products  intended  for  ex- 
port are  burning  for  several  days  after  we  occupy  the  city.  From 
this  port  most  of  the  cotton  shipped  to  England  was  sent  out  and 
English  made  goods  were  landed  here  to  supply  the  Confederate 
army  and  people  of  the  south.  This  port  is  supposed  to  be  block- 
aded by  our  navy  many  Confederate  and  English  vessels  manage  to 
run  the  blockade  and  land  their  cargoes  at  points  of  destination. 

We  left  Alexandria  in  the  midst  of  severe  winter  weather.  Now 
frogs  are  sing'ng  in  the  Carolina  swamps  as  we  advance  along  the 
Gape  Fear  river's  sandy,  swampy  shore,  while  gun  boats  are  throwing 
shells  into  Fort  Anderson  which  we  find  badly  wrecked  on  taking 
possession.  Boats  are  also  seen  searching  the  river  for  torpedoes  as 
we  advance  through  many  rice  plantations  along  the  river. 

March  22.  Fred  Werner  is  sent  to  the  hospital  from  where  he 
is  discharged  after  thirty-two  months  faithful  service.  The  war 
having  closed  before  he  was  able  for  duty  he  did  not  return  to 
the  company,  but  went  direct  from  the  hospital  to  his  home,  and 
his  yoice  is  missed  in  the  ranks.  With  Smitty  in  Andersonville, 
Yonie  now  has  the  field  pretty  much  to  himself. 

Our  regiment  is  now  placed  on  provost  duty  in  the  city  with 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Jordan  as  Provost  Marshal.  The  other  regiments 
of  the  brigade  under  command  of  Colonel  Sterl  is  encamped  near  by 
to  garrison  this  post,  while  the  units  of  the  Twenty  Third  Corps  has 
marched  into  the  interior  of  the  state  in  persuit  of  the  retreating 
enemy.  On  our  arrival  here  one  hundred  guns  are  fired  by  the  army 
and  war  vessels  celebrating  the  capture  of  the  enemy's  last  port  on 
the  Atlantic  coast.  We  hear  that  the  remainder  of  Sherman's  army 
is  now  advancing  northward  from  Savannah  meeting  with  but  little 
opposition  on  the  way. 

A  few  days  after  our  arrival  here  two  boats  loaded  with  Union 
prisoners  are  unloaded  at  the  wharf.  A  number  of  these  victims  are 
seen  lying  dead  on  the  decks  and  others  are  dying.  In  wretched  con- 
dition many  are  being  carried  away  on  stretchers,  living,  half  clad 
skeletons,  demented,  covered  with  filth  and  vermin,  men  to  whom 
death  is  a  welcome  visitor.  These  prisoners  have  been  confined  in 
Florence  and  other  prisons  and  liberated  by  the  rebel  authorities  on 

172 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

approach  of  Sherman's  army.  They  report  that  a  building  at  Flor- 
ence was  turned  about  eighty  sick  prisoners  being  burned  with  the 
building.  After  witnessing  these  victims  of  rebel  atrocity  we  are 
again  reminded  of  Sherman's  comparison  of  war  with  hell  and  now 
are  almost  ready  to  believe  that,  after  all,  the  General  may  have  ma- 
ligned the  fiery  regions.  Yet  monuments  have  been  erected  to  pur- 
petuate  the  memory  of  men  who  are  responsible  for  the  murder  of 
these  defenseless  soldiers. 

March  4,  George  Leppard  of  Lake  township  is  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital while  on  guard  duty  in  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  returning  to 
the  company  at  Goldsboro,  May  8th,  following.  George  is 
one  of  the  five  boys  in  company  "B"  who  took  a  vacation  on  the 
"French"  plan  while  the  army  was  passing  through  Ohio  in  Jan- 
uary. He  reported  to  the  company  for  duty  in  about  thirty  days 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  is  mustered  out  after 
thirty  one  months  service. 


173 


CHAPTER  X. 


WILMINGTON  TO  GREENSBORO.  N.  C.  AN<D  HOME 


March  4,  while  President  Lincoln  is  being  inaugurated  for  his  sec- 
ond term  we  are  on  forced  march  of  about  one  hundred  miles  in  the 
direction  of  Kinston  N.  C,  where  we  expect  to  join  our  Corps.  Dur- 
ing this  time  General  Reilly  becomes  very  riley  through  some  dis- 
agreement among  the  officers  and  gives  us  the  hardest  march  we 
have  had  since  leaving  Georgia.  The  general  gratifies  his  peppery 
temper  and  is  probably  satisfied,  and  the  boys  are  sore.  While  march- 
ing along,  distant  canonading  is  heard  and  during  a  portion  of  one 
day's  advance  we  pass  through  volumes  of  smoke  and  almost  unbear- 
able heat  coming  from  burning  forests  along  the  roadside.  We  are 
hurried  forward  and  in  the  meantime  ford  Trent  river  where  the 
head  of  the  column  balk  on  fording  the  stream  until  a  member  of 
Cox's  staff  delivers  a  very  pointed  speech,  then  dismounts  and  wades 
through  the  stream  followed  by  the  rebellious  soldiers.  On  arriving 
at  Kinston  we  find  that  the  enemy  has  been  driveen  back  and  here  we 
encamp  and  are  at  work  making  repairs  of  the  railroad  and  a  bridge 
near  by.  During  a  portion  of  this  march  we  pass  through  a  fine 
country  of  well  kept  plantations  with  flowers  and  trees  in  bloom  and 
fences  decorated  with  grinning  pickaninnies  of  the  usual  assorted 
shades  with  their  wobbling,  wooly  heads  keeping  time  to  the  music  of 
passing  bands.  At  one  of  our  camping  grounds  on  a  large  plantation 
enough  ham  and  yams  are  found  to  supply  the  brigade  with  these 
delicacies  for  several  days. 

On  March  20,  we  advance  on  Goldsboro  where  the  enemy  is  ex- 
pected to  offer  battle  but  vacate  the  village  and  on  our  arrival  we 
meet  the  advance  of  Sherman's  army  moving  north  from  Savannah, 
Ga.  A  number  of  our  generals  with  their  staffs  go  out  to  meet  the 
great  raider  who  is  welcomed  with  loud  cheers,  playing  of  bands  and 
a  salute  of  thirteen  guns,  followed  by  a  display  of  rockets  in  the  eve- 
ning. 

Here  we  go  into  camp,  build  fortifications,  and  occasionally  visit 
the  village  where  we  are  interested  in  looking  over  slave  quarters, 
auction  blocks  and  stocks,  where  slaves  are  quartered,  sold  and 
whaled. 

For  several  days  Sherman's  army  is  marching  in  and  camping 
after  its  long  trip  of  over  five  hundred  miles  through  the  heart  of 
the  Confederacy.  The  boys  are  looking  and  feeling  fine  and  many  are 
dressed  in  fantastic  garments  while  the  army  clown  is  seen  bringing 

174 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

up  the  rear,  mounted  on  a  dwarf  mule  and  dressed  in  plug  hat  goggles 
and  clawhammer  coat.  They  are  loaded  with  abundant  supplies 
gathered  on  the  way  and  trailed  by  hundreds  of  vehicles  of  many 
description,  also  horses,  cattle,  mules  and  slaves. 

All  seems  quiet  along  the  lines  after  the  army  settles  down 
though  the  enemy  is  on  our  front  looking  out  for  the  next  move. 
Our  band  visits  the  outpost  and  plays  Dixie  for  the  benefit  of  rebel 
scouts  who  may  be  within  hearing  distance  of  the  music. 

April  4,  we  are  gratified  to  hear  orders  read  on  dress  parade  an- 
nouncing the  evacuation  of  Richmond  and  Petersburg  by  the  enemy 
and  all  now  feel  that  the  end  of  the  war  is  near  at  hand,  all  happy 
and  hilarious,  singing  "sour  apple  tree,"  "sweet  home,"  etc.,  while 
a  few  athlets  may  be  seen  turning  handsprings. 


GOLDSBORO,  NORTH  CAROLINA 


We  who  were  left  in  Alabama  with  General  Thomas  last  November 
have  been  roughly  handled  by  the  rebel  army  under  General  Hood 
who  routed  and  rawhided  us  from  Columbia  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  a 
distance  of  about  sixty  miles,  and  think  we  have  been  given  the  hard 
end  of  the  job.  But  as  we  have  so  completely  applied  much  worse 
treatment  to  Hood's  army  over  the  same  ground  all  are  satisfied. 
Each  wing  of  Sherman's  army  has  performed  a  great  work  since 
separation  in  Alabama  and  have  now  brought  the  Confederacy  near  its 
last  ditch  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 

During  the  month  of  March  a  number  of  recruits  and  substitutes 
whose  patriotism  has  been  awakened  under  the  stimulating  influence 
of  ten  to  fifteen  hundred  dollars  bounty  report  to  the  regiment  for 
duty,  and  our  company  draws  its  share.  As  the  war  is  about  over  the 
only  use  we  can  make  of  these  delayed  patriots  is  to  drill  them  and 
this  job  is  handed  to  the  undersigned.  This  work  is  properly  the 
duty  of  sergeants  but  Lieutenant  Vick  refuses  to  argue  the  case  or 
to  divide  the  work  with  other  drill  masters.  Almost  any  kind  of  a 
man  passes  examination  and  is  accepted  as  recruits  or  substitutes 
during  the  past  few  months  and  six  of  these  fag  ends  of  the  Union 
army  are  assigned  to  our  company.  (Last  on  the  muster  roll,  and  first 
on  the  pension  roll) 

Buck-kneed,  bow  legged,  and  warped  spinal  columns,  and  two  who 
are  well  up  in  the  forty's — too  old  to  learn  new  tricks,  are  sent  to 
fill  up  the  ranks  and  paid  for  by  men  with  more  money  than  patriot- 
ism. 

Boys  are  pestering  these  "bounty  grabbers"  shamefully.  This 
arouses  Ritchey's  sympathy  in  behalf  of  the  persecuted  patriots 
who  are  pleased  to  find  a  sympathizing  friends.  They  patiently  lis- 
tened to  Ritchey's  store  of  information  it  is  his  wont  to  deliver  to 

175 


"Contraband  of  War" 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

listeners  who  are  kept  awake  to  the  importance  of  what  he  has  to 
say  by  constant  jabs  in  the  ribs  by  Ritchey's  elbow  or  thumb. 

Lieutenant  Vick  thinks  these  fellows  should  be  made  to  earn  a 
portion  of  the  money  they  cost  and  to  make  up  for  lost  time  he 
keeps  the  drill  master  and  squad  busy  while  other  boys  are  having 
an  easy  time.  Lieutenant  knows  I  am  not  pleased  with  this  job  but 
this  does  not  disturb  him  and  it's  my  opinion  that  this  extra  duty  is 
in  payment  for  a  vacation  taken  last  winter.  Standing  room  is  found 
in  some  shady  spot  while  teaching  this  raw  material  all  the  double 
quick  movements  known  in  infantry  drill  and  while  resting  (?)  the 
squad  is  drilled  in  the  manual  of  arms  while  I  enjoy  the  pounding 
they  give  to  each  other's  corns  when  coming  to  an  order  arms,  mean- 
while regretting  that  Vick's  corns  are  not  within  reach  of  these  bom- 
bardments. Between  drills  Seely  and  others  add  to  the  troubles  of 
these  tardy  patriots  by  pestering  them  in  various  ways. 

March  24,  1865,  Elias  Pontius  of  Lake  township  returns  from 
the  hospital  where  he  was  sent  while  encamped  at  Kinston,  N.  C. 
With  the  exception  of  this  short  absence  he  served  his  entire 
term  of  enlistment  on  duty  in  the  ranks  and  is  mustered  out  with 
the  company  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

April  1,  General  Reilly  resigns  and  retires  from  military  service, 
when  our  division  is  placed  under  command  of  General  Carter. 

Sherman's  re-united  army  is  nof  encamped  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C, 
numbering  about  one  hundred  thousand.  April  10,  word  reaches  us 
that  Lee  has  surrendered  his  army  of  forty  to  fifty  thousand  men,  at 
Appomatox,  Va.,  and  the  welcome  tidings  is  read  on  dress  parade. 
When  parade  is  dismissed,  one  hundred  thousand  voices  send  up  a 
cheer  that  sounds  the  crack  of  doom  to  all  "sesesh"  within  sound  of 
our  voices  and  guns,  and  the  noise  is  kept  up  until  late.  Muskets  are 
loaded  with  blanks  and  fired  until  our  ammunition  is  well  nigh  ex- 
hausted. All  except  the  drill  master  and  his  awkward  squad  are 
now  enjoying  a  rest  with  only  camp  duties  and  occasional  scouting. 
The  rebel  army  under  General  Johnston  is  keeping  out  of  our  way 
while  Jeff  Davis  is  busy  dodging  our  cavalry  now  hot  on  his  trail, 
hoping  to  capture  the  arch  traitor  and  the  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars placed  upon  his  head.  The  capital  of  the  late  C.  S.  A.  has  mov- 
ed. It's  seat  of  government  is  now  located  in  a  saddle  and  the  head 
thereof  is  looking  for  a  resting  place.  Retribution  for  the  great  con- 
spirators is  at  hand  and  dreams  of  a  new  government  founded  on 
human  bondage  is  fading.  The  last  scene  of  the  great  secession  act 
discloses  to  view  an  aged  lady  (?)  with  a  pail  in  hand  looking  for  a 
drink  of  water.  Corporal  Munyer,  the  lowest  officer  in  the  ranks  de- 
tects the  disguise  of  this  ancient  lady(?)  and  exposes  to  view  the 
highest  ranking  officer  in  the  late  C.  S.  A.  The  mask  is  removed  and 
an  ignominious  ending  of  the  "sacred  cause"  follows.  Curtain  slowly 
descends  as  the  head  of  the  aforesaid  C.  S.  A.  establishes  head  quart- 
ers at  Fort  Monroe  accompanied  by  a  body  guard  of  Union  soldiers. 

April  11,  we  start  out  to  meet  Hood's  army,  now  under  its  former 
commander  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  which  retires  before  our  forces,  and 

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on  April  15  go  into  camp  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.  During  this  march  and 
while  rejoicing  over  the  fine  prospects  of  an  early  return  to  our 
homes,  word  passes  along  the  line  that  President  Lincoln  has  been 
assassinated.  At  first  this  is  regarded  as  one  among  the  false  rumors 
often  circulating  in  the  ranks  and  little  attention  is  given  the  report 
until  camp  is  reached  when  the  distressing  news  is  confirmed.  Our 
president  has  fallen  a  victim  at  the  hands  of  those  who  now  most 
need  his  aid  and  supremely  wise  council  in  their  adversity.  He  has 
finished  his  work.  His  name  and  fame  will  follow  down  the  ages 
with  the  history  of  the  country  he  saved  from  dissolution  and  chaos. 
"With  malice  toward  none  and  charity  for  all"  surely  none  could 
"bind  up  the  Nation's  wounds"  more  justly  and  speedily,  and  bring 
reconciliation  to  estranged  sections  of  the  Union  than  this  man  who 
has  given  his  life  to  his  country  and  liberation  of  his  fellowman.  An 
unusual  quietness  prevails  throughout  the  camping  grounds  of  this 
great  army  and  mutterings  are  heard  that  bode  evil  to  the  enemy 
should  an  opportunity  again  present  itself  to  meet  him  on  the  field. 
Threats  are  made  to  burn  the  city  of  Raleigh  and  much  anxiety  and 
alarm  is  noticed  among  the  citizens.  In  addition  to  the  regular  patrol 
our  regiment  is  added  to  the  force  and  while  on  duty  a  number  of 
solders  are  arrested  in  attempt  to  fire  buildings. 

Many  loyal  people  are  found  among  the  citizens  of  Raleigh  and 
throughout  the  state  who  have  suffered  persecution  at  the  hands  of 
rebels  during  the  war  and  to  be  now  threatened  by  their  friends  is 
adding  to  their  distress. 

April  21,  our  army  is  being  reviewed  by  General  Grant  and  other 
generals  while  marching  through  the  streets  of  the  city.  For  some 
reason  unknown  to  us  the  men  in  our  regiment  have  been  drilled  to 
carry  arms  at  "right  shoulder  shift"  with  the  back  of  the  hammer 
resting  upon  our  shoulders  which  places  the  gun  barrel  at  an  angle 
of  about  eighty  degrees.  When  on  review  this  brings  the  regiment 
out  in  conspicuous  view  to  people  witnessing  the  parade.  On  evening 
dress  parade  the  announcement  is  made  that  Generals  Grant,  Sher- 
man and  Schofield  send  to  Colonel  Jordan  congratulations  for  our 
"excellent  marching  and  soldierly  bearing,"  adding  that  they  had  never 
seen  this  excelled  even  by  regular  soldiers.  So  much  for  the  merci- 
less drill  and  exacting  discipline  from  a  regular  army  officer  during 
the  time  we  served  under  his  command.  While  encamped  here  the 
boys  who  captured  fiags  at  Franklin  and  Nashville  are  called  out  and 
serenaded  by  the  band  while  receiving  medals  or  honor  for  their 
brave  actions  during  these  battles. 

April  22,  Alfred  Clemans,  of  Paris  township  is  detailed  for 
guard  duty  at  Division  headquarters  where  he  remained  until 
June  17,  returning  at  that  time  for  duty.  He  is  one  of  the  five  boys 
who  took  "French"  leave  of  absence  and  returned  to  the  company 
at  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  after  an  absence  of  about  thirty  days.  He 
served  on  duty  with  the  company  thirty  one  months  and  was 
mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Now  one  of  the  survivors 
of  the  company. 

We  remain  in  this  camp  while  negotiations  are  under  way  for 

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the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army,  Sherman's  terms  for  receiving  the 
surrender  of  this  army  is  not  satisfactory  to  the  war  department 
when  we  are  ordered  to  move  against  the  enemy,  and  be  ready  to 
march  at  a  moment's  warning  and  all  are  soon  packed  up  ready  for 
the  march.  Before  this  order  is  carried  into  effect  the  rebel  army 
encamped  at  Greensboro,  N.  C.  surrenders  on  terms  dictated  from 
Washington,  April  26,  1865.  General  Grant  is  here  to  aid  in  receiving 
the  surrender  of  the  last  heavy  force  of  the  Confederates  and  within 
a  short  time  scattering  remnants  of  the  rebel  forces  surrender  and 
the  long  wished  for  end  to  the  struggle  has  arrived. 

April  29,  is  set  apart  as  a  day  of  mourning  for  the  loss  of  Pres- 
ident Lincoln  when  guns  are  fired  at  intervals  thoroughout  the  day, 
ending  with  a  salute  of  thirty  six  guns  at  the  setting  of  the  sun. 

We  hear  of  the  Sultana  disaster  on  the  Mississippi  river  where 
hundreds  of  Union  soldiers  on  their  way  home  after  release  from 
rebel  prisons  are  killed  and  drowned  near  Memphis  Tenn. 

A  number  of  Stark  county  soldiers,  captured  in  Tennessee, 
were  aboard  this  vessel.  Among  these  were  Lieut.  Jacob  Shaf- 
fer, F.  A.  Clapsaddle,  Thomas  Rue,  William  Smith,  Chas.  Detrick, 
Adam  Hendricks,  Alex.  Laugheter,  Robert  Roath,  Thomas  Spen- 
cer and  Benjamin  Orew,  all  of  whom  perished  except  Lieut.  Ja- 
cob Shaffer  and  F.  A.  Clapsaddle,  who  were  rescued  while  float- 
ing on  the  river;  all  members  of  Company  F  115th  Ohio  Volun- 
teer Infantry  from  Lexington  and  Marlboro  townships. 

May  2  1865,  General  Schofield,  commanding  the  department  of 
North  Carolina,  and  General  Cox,  now  commanding  the  Twenty- 
Third  Corps,  with  their  staff  officers,  accompanied  by  our  regiment 
board  a  train  made  up  partly  of  flat  cars  and  after  a  few  hours  run 
we  arrive  at  Greensboro,  N.  C.,  where  for  a  few  days  Jeff.  Davis  es- 
tablished migratory  headquarters  of  the  Confederacy. 

Here  we  leave  the  cars  and  form  in  line  in  the  midst  of  about 
thirty  thousand  defeated  and  disheartened  Confederate  soldiers, 
many  of  whom  rejoice  with  us  that  the  contest  is  ended.  We  are 
soon  surrounded  by  thousands  of  our  late  enemy  whose  appearance 
and  equipment  plainly  show  the  exhausted  and  impoverished  condi- 
tion of  the  Confederate  forces  and  we  know  that  braver  boys  cannot 
be  found  on  this  continent  for  they  have  been  our  adversaries  during 
the  past  year,  facing  privations  and  dangers  with  but  scant  hope  of 
success. 

A  patrol  guard  of  Union  soldiers  is  placed  on  duty  in  the  village 
to  keep  order  while  other  detachments  are  sent  to  surrounding  fields 
where  rebel  guards  are  relieved  from  duty  over  supplies  surren- 
dered to  our  forces.  Among  these  details  I  am  sent  with  a  squad 
of  men  to  relieve  rebel  guards  on  duty  in  a  field  parked  with  artil- 
lery and  ammunition  wagons.  Relieving  this  guard  from  duty  over 
their  own  property  is  a  new  experience  and  somewhat  embarrassing 
yet  the  change  is  made  without  friction  or  apparent  regret  on  the 
part  of  the  rebel  guards  we  are  relieving.  "Johnnies"  know  what  we 
are  there  for,  so  after  receiving  instructions  from  the  sergeant  of 

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this  guard  we  march  along  the  line  when  the  rebel  guard  takes  the 
proper  position,  instructs  the  "yank"  who  relieves  him  and  drops  in 
rear  of  the  line  until  all  are  relieved.  They  are  then  formed  in  line 
by  their  sergeant  and  stack  arms  on  which  they  hang  a  varied  as- 
sortment of  equipment,  break  ranks  and  their  warfare  is  ended.  A 
few  of  these  boys  seem  to  die  hard,  claiming  they  have  been  over- 
powered, overwhelmed  and  have  worn  themselves  out  "licking  yanks" 
against  great  odds.  They  refer  to  General  Lee  who  during  the  past 
eighteen  months  has  "been  whipping  Yankees  against  great  odds  and 
worn  themselves  out  on  the  job."  Of  course  we  let  the  boys  have 
their  say  for  it's  not  hurting  us  a  bit  and  seems  consoling  to  them, 
yet  ask  them  to  point  out  any  important  battle  they  have  won  west 
of  Virginia. 

One  of  our  "strategists"  who  happened  to  be  in  this  squad  of 
guards  and  always  loaded  with  contention  and  indiscretion  has  to  be 
smothered  in  order  to  prevent  a  scrap.  To  intimate  to  these  rebs 
that  they  had  been  fairly  defeated  might  make  trouble  for  all  are 
imbued  with  that  southern  spirit  of  "honah"  that  admits  no  defeat. 
A  few  of  these  rebs.  are  sullen  and  snappy  and  have  but  little  to  say 
but  we  know  by  the  way  they  are  sizing  us  up  they  are  doing  con- 
siderable thinking  and  little  effort  is  made  to  conceal  their  hatred 
of  "yanks".  Yet  we  have  no  ill  feeling  toward  them  and  sincerely 
extend  our  sympathy  for  we  know  they  will  be  paroled  and  sent 
away,  many  without  homes,  means  or  employment.  All  except  the 
sergeant  of  the  guard  soon  depart  for  the  village.  The  sergeant  is 
friendly  and  expresses  sensible  views  of  the  situation.  He  thinks  the 
war  should  have  ended  over  a  year  ago  thus  saving  the  lives  of  thou- 
sands of  men  who  have  been  sacrificed  in  order  to  gratify  the  ambi- 
tion or  perhaps  save  the  necks  of  a  few  men  at  the  head  of  the  con- 
spiracy to  destroy  the  Union.  The  sergeant  says  much  credit  is  due 
Confederate  soldiers  who  during  the  past  year  have  stood  by  their 
colors  fighting  and  giving  up  their  lives  for  a  cause  that  seemed 
hopeless.  Many  of  the  rank  and  file  in  the  Confederate  army  cannot 
read  or  write  and  by  reason  of  this  they  have  been  made  to  believe 
their  forces  are  gaining  victories  in  other  fields.  Newspapers 
throughout  the  south  are  misleading  in  their  accounts  of  the  opera- 
tion of  their  forces  hoping  to  inspire  soldiers  and  citizens  to  re- 
newed effort  to  bolster  up  the  "sacred  cause"  of  disunion  and  human 
bondage.  A  newspaper  issued  a  few  days  before  the  evacuation  of 
Richmond  informs  its  readers  that  Grant's  army  fronting  Petersburg 
has  been  whipped  and  Sherman's  army  on  its  march  from  Savannah 
through  the  Carolinas  is  meeting  disaster. 

The  sergeant  relates  much  that  is  interesting  concerning  manners 
and  customs  and  conditions  in  the  south  before  and  during  the  war. 
His  father  and  mother  live  in  Georgia  and  unfortunately  are  located 
on  the  trail  left  by  Sherman's  army.  They  belong  to  the  class  known 
as  "poor  whites"  and  own  a  little  home  of  a  few  acres  which  he 
hopes  has  escaped  destruction. 

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The  sergeant  goes  on  to  say  that  he  has  learned  to  read  and  write 
but  never  attended  school  for  public  schools  are  unknown  in  the  south 
and  are  not  wanted  by  aristocracy  who  prefer  to  continue  a  degree  of 
slavery  among  poor  whites,  a  system  that  has  existed  in  the  south 
since  the  formation  of  the  government.  "We  were  told  that  we  were 
fighting  for  southern  rights,"  he  says,  but  he  cannot  see  where  the 
condition  of  his  class  would  be  improved  by  gaining  southern  inde- 
pendence. "It's  simply  a  case  of  heads  you  win,  tails  we  lose."  He 
uses  strong  language  as  he  recalls  the  fact  that  "poor  white  trash" 
are  even  looked  upon  with  contempt  by  slaves  belonging  to  aristo- 
cratic families,  yet  are  good  enough  and  foolish  enough  to  fight  to 
more  firmly  establish  this  rule  of  aristocracy,  always  exercised  with 
autocratic  power  in  the  south.  "We  are  the  owners  of  but  little 
property,"  he  says,  "and  many  will  find  only  patches  of  land,  with 
buildings,  fences  and  families  gone  on  our  return."  The  sergeant  is 
well  supplied  with  Confederate  money  and  is  very  thankful  when  I 
exchange  a  one  dollar  "Lincoln  green"  for  one  of  his  worthless 
twenty  dollar  Confederate  bills.  "This  dollar"  he  says  "is  now  the 
sum  total  of  my  worldly  possessions." 

While  on  duty  in  Greensboro  we  treat  these  Confederates 
kindly  and  give  but  little  heed  to  braggadocia,  insults  and  insinua- 
tions occasionally  heard.  A  few  of  our  boys  resent  these  windy  at- 
tacks until  both  Union  and  Confederate  officers  take  a  hand  in  quiet- 
ing the  men.  Rebel  soldiers  now  feel  under  less  restraint  of  military 
discipline  and  a  few  are  found  ready  to  make  trouble  if  encourage- 
ment is  given.  Many  of  these  men  are  believed  to  carry  concealed 
weapons  and  enough  might  be  found  to  dispose  of  about  four  hun- 
dred "Yanks"  should  these  uncontroled  "Johnnies"  decide  on  another 
"killin."  The  first  night  on  duty  in  the  village  the  situation  seemer 
alarming  at  times.  Drunken  rebel  soldiers  are  looking  for  more 
trouble,  but  we  are  patient,  making  due  allowance  for  the  frame  of 
mind  and  condition  of  these  men,  are  warned  against  entering  into  ar- 
guments with  them,  and  are  aided  in  keeping  order  by  manly  efforts  of 
Confederate  officers  who  give  timely  aid  in  keeping  us  out  of  trouble. 

When  it  becomes  known  in  the  rebel  ranks  that  their  army  has 
surrendered  many  leave  at  once  without  waiting  parole,  taking  their 
horses  and  equipment  with  them  declaring  they  intend  to  join  other 
forces  not  yet  surrendered  and  continue  the  war.  We  hear  that  these 
men  have  formed  into  squads  and  are  making  raids  and  robbing 
former  friends  in  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas.  Helpless  citizens  are 
at  the  mercy  of  these  raiders  until  Union  cavalry  is  brought  into  ac- 
tion who  capture  and  turn  them  over  to  civil  authorities  for  trial. 
An  artillery  sergeant,  who  deserted  Lee's  army  on  the  night  of  its 
surrender  and  joined  Johnston's  army,  with  a  section  of  his  battery, 
now  appears  where  we  are  on  guard  to  take  a  last  look  at  the  cannon 
he  has  been  serving  during  the  war.  It  will  take  many  years  to  re- 
construct this  fellow. 

A  few  of  these  men  continue  to  make  trouble  and  raise  frequent 

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disturbances,  often  among  themselves.  The  situation  for  the  Union 
patrols  and  guards  is  unusual  and  perplexing.  To  attempt  to  arrest 
these  hostile  "Johnnies"  might  bring  on  a  conflict. 

A  few  hot  headed  fellows  denounce  their  officers  for  what  they 
say  is  a  "cowardly  surrender  of  the  sacred  cause."  They  know  but 
little  about  the  situation  but,  like  our  oracles,  they  have  opinions 
which  are  now  freely  expressed  loud  enough  for  "Yanks"  to  hear, 
though  a  large  majority  take  a  more  sensible  view  of  the  matter  and 
are  pleased  to  know  the  strife  is  ended.  These  are  the  survivors  of 
the  rebel  army  we  have  been  fighting  during  the  past  year,  and  who 
assaulted  our  works  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  where  many  of  their  companies 
and  regiments  were  almost  destroyed.  They  all  seem  to  have  an 
abundance  of  Confederate  scrip  and  poker  playing  is  now  their  favo- 
rite pastime.  Instead  of  counting  this  scrip  they  just  reach  in  their 
hats  or  coat  pockets  and  sometimes  place  a  handful  of  these  defunct 
shinplasters  on  a  poor  poker  hand. 

On  the  morning  of  May  4,  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  regiment  of  in- 
fantry arrive  and  assist  in  this  guard  duty  and  within  a  few  days  the 
reminder  of  our  division  march  in  and  camp  near  the  village. 

Army  supplies  turned  over  by  the  Confederates  consist  of  about 
150  pieces  of  artillery,  500  wagons,  40,000  stand  of  arms,  200  stands  of 
colors,  200  locomotives  and  1,000  cars,  together  with  commissary  sup- 
plies, ammunition,  horses  and  mules. 

While  encamped  at  Greensboro,  accompanied  by  a  comrade  we 
walk  a  few  miles  out  in  the  country  to  visit  the  old  Revolutionary 
battlefield  of  Guilford  Courthouse  where  a  battle  was  fought  between 
Cornwallis  and  General  Greene  over  eighty  years  prior.  A  trace  of 
the  old  fortifications  is  found,  and  an  aged  oak  tree  with  a  portion  of 
its  top  shot  away  at  this  battle  in  shown  us  by  a  friendly  Quaker  liv- 
ing near  by.  After  looking  over  the  grounds  a  short  time,  where  we 
are  shown  other  points  of  interest  connected  with  this  battle,  we 
are  invited  to  the  home  of  our  new  friend  and  without  urging  ac- 
cept an  invitation  to  remain  for  dinner — the  first  time  we  have  heard 
or  waited  for  an  invitation  of  this  kind  for  a  long  time.  The  people 
living  in  this  vicinity  are  nearly  all  of  the  Quaker  faith  and  with  rare 
exceptions  are  both  Union  and  anti-slavery  in  sentiment.  We  enjoy 
this  visit  and  are  interested  while  the  family  relate  their  experience 
within  the  rebel  lines  during  the  war.  By  reason  of  this  religious 
faith  they  have  escaped  persecution  at  the  hands  of  Confederate  sol- 
diers and  conscription  officers  but  have  been  compelled  to  contribute 
liberally  in  support  of  the  late  C.  S.  A.  We  thank  the  family  for 
their  hospitality  and  return  to  camp  late  in  the  afternoon. 

June  15,  Thomas  Bender  of  Lake  township  is  detailed  as  am- 
bulance driver  where  he  serves  until  transferred  to  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty  Third  Ohio  regiment.  Bender  enlisted  as  a 
recruit  in  Jan.  1864  and  was  assigned  to  our  company  April  21,  fol- 
lowing at  Bull's  Gap,  Tenn.  He  served  on  duty  with  the  company 
every  day  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  remaining  forces  of  Sherman's  army  are  marching  to  Wash- 

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ington  and  will  pass  in  review  before  government  officials  and  from 
there  will  be  sent  to  the  states  from  where  the  men  enlisted,  and  be 
disbanded. 

While  encamped  at  Greensboro,  N.  C.,  a  convention  of  Ohio  sol- 
diers is  held  in  a  grove  adjoining  the  village.  At  this  convention 
General  Jacob  D.  Cox,  our  division  commander  during  the  past  year, 
is  unanimously  endorsed  as  a  candidate  for  governor  of  Ohio.  Dele- 
gates are  elected  to  present  the  General's  name  at  a  convention  to  be 
held  in  the  state  and  instructed  to  use  their  influence  to  secure  his 
nomination  for  that  office. 

By  the  middle  of  May  the  paroled  rebel  prisoners  have  all  de- 
parted for  their  homes  where  many  will  find  desolation  and  poverty 
and  the  outlook  is  certainly  gloomy  for  these  misguided  boys.  Peace 
is  now  established,  the  Union  is  saved  and  the  bondman  can  now  en- 
joy the  fruits  of  his  labor.  No  more  slave  pens  or  auction  blocks 
where  families  are  separated  and  lost  to  each  other  for  all  time.  No 
more  brutal  lashing,  or  hunting  down  with  vicious  blood  hounds  tear- 
ing flesh  from  the  bodies  of  men  and  women  seeking  the  God  given 
right  of  freedom. 

We  now  have  only  the  arms  and  munitions  of  war  surrendered 
by  our  late  enemy  to  guard  and  this  is  being  loaded  on  cars  and  taken 
away.  Our  duties  are  light  for  all  except  the  drill  master  and  his 
awkward  squad  who  are  kept  busy  in  order  to  punish  the  former  and 
collect  damages  for  the  latter.  June  16,  we  pass  in  review  before 
Generals  Schofield,  Cox  and  Carter  and  on  June  17,  our  regiment  is 
mustered  out  of  service  and  relived  from  guard  duty  by  Massachus- 
etts troops.  The  awkard  squad  is  turned  over  to  another  drill  master 
without  regrets  from  either  the  squad  or  drillmaster.  Our  recruits 
are  transferred  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty  Third  Ohio  regiment 
and  will  probably  remain  on  guard  duty  at  some  point  in  the  south. 
The  Chaplain  delivers  a  farewell  address  and  Ritchey  discards  the 
mask  he  has  worn  during  nearly  three  years  of  trials  and  tribulations 
and  rejoicees  with  his  comrades.  We  scramble  aboard  freight  cars  and 
are  soon  homeward  bound  on  a  railroad  of  the  old  type  construction 
with  its  wood  stringers  and  strap  iron  railing  and  much  out  of  repair. 
Over  this  road  we  slowly  wend  our  way  northward.  Soldiers  fre- 
quently leaves  the  slow  moving  cars  and  find  but  little  difficulty  get- 
ting aboard  again.  We  are  impatient  but  in  time  reach  City  Point 
after  passing  through  Danville,  where  the  shifting  Confederacy  es- 
tablished headquarters  for  a  brief  period,  and  then  on  to  Petersburg 
and  James  river.  Here  we  board  the  Transport  Columbia  and  continue 
our  homeward  journey  down  this  river  through  Hampton  Roads  near 
Newport  News,  and  Fortress  Monroe,  where  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
now  waive  over  Jeff  Davis'  headquarters  and  enter  Chesapeake  Bay. 
Our  boat  is  so  heavily  loaded  we  lay  by  a  short  time  in  the  mouth 
of  York  river  because  of  storm.  We  finally  arrive  at  Baltimore,  Md., 
where  the  regiment  boards  a  train  after  a  few  hours  delay,  journeying 
westward  passing  through  the  Allegheny  mountains  and  on  to  Pitts- 

183 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

burgh  where  we  stop  off  and  the  good  citizens  treat  us  to  the  squarest 
meal  we  have  looked  upon  and  devoured  since  entering  service.  Then 
on  to  Wellsville,  Ohio,  where  the  regiment  is  joined  by  our  gallant 
old  colonel,  General  Reilly,  and  from  here  over  our  native  soil  to 
Cleveland  where  we  arrive  near  noon  on  June  20.  Here  the  regiment 
is  ordered  from  the  train  dressed  up  in  our  "dirty  best"  for  parade  to 
the  Public  Square  where  we  "trim"  up  another  square  meal  prepared 
by  the  citizens.  After  settling  our  dinners  we  march  to  the  heights 
of  Camp  Taylor  where  many  troops  now  returning  from  service  are 
camping  while  waiting  final  discharge. 

Friends  from  the  northern  part  of  the  state  are  in  the  city  to 
welcome  us  home.  After  breaking  ranks  we  mingle  with  these 
friends,  all  rejoicing  at  our  safe  return  and  the  result  of  our  service. 
A  number  are  here  whose  loved  ones  have  not  returned,  to  learn 
more  particulars  of  the  death  of  father,  son  or  brother.  Even  to 
soldiers  accustomed  to  distressing  scenes  of  warfare  the  sorrows  of 
these  bereaved  ones  awaken  heartfelt  sympathy  from  surviving  com- 
rades. 

At  the  request  of  citizens  the  regiment  has  its  last  dress  parade 
in  the  presence  of  thousands  who  loudly  applaud  after  we  go  through 
the  manual  of  arms  with  the  precision  of  well  trained  regular  sol- 
diers, then  stack  our  arms  for  the  last  time. 

On  June  28,  we  are  paid  off,  discharged  and  given  transportation 
to  our  homes.  We  have  served  two  years  and  ten  months  in  active 
service  and  during  that  time  have  traveled  over  three  thousand  miles 
by  rail  and  water,  and  marched  about  four  thousand  miles  leaving  on 
this  trail  the  graves  of  over  two  hundred  men  of  the  regiment,  and 
double  this  number  discharged  because  of  disabling  wounds  and 
other  physical  disability,  and  something  less  than  one  hundred  who 
have  spent  a  portion  of  this  time  in  rebel  prisons.  The  regiment  has 
taken  over  two  hundred  prisoners,  eleven  stands  of  the  enemy  col- 
ors and  four  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  regiment  has  been  under  the  enemy's  fire  one  hundred  and 
twelve  days  during  its  term  of  service  and  taking  into  consideration 
its  march  of  about  three  hundred  miles  through  the  Cumberland 
mountains  and  on  to  Cumberland  Gap,  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  Tenn. 
(the  only  siege  suffered  by  the  Union  forces  during  the  war)  and  our 
experience  at  "Valley  Forge,"  the  Atlanta  campaign  and  doubling 
back  over  the  same  territory  between  that  city  and  Nashville,  Tenn., 
ending  with  trailing  though  the  swamps  of  North  Carolina  from  the 
Atlantic  coast  to  Wilmington,  and  on  to  Raleigh,  and  Greensboro, 
N.  C.,  we  feel  that  our  duty  has  been  fully  and  faithfully  performed 
during  a  long  period  of  cruel  suffering,  sorrow  and  desolation,  where 
tens  of  thousands  have  given  the  "last  full  measure  of  devotion"  to 
save  the  Union  and  establish  "a  new  birth  of  freedom." 

June  29,  1865  the  surviving  squad  of  Marlboro  boys  board  a  train 
at  Cleveland  and  are  soon  in  Alliance  where  conveyances  are  hired  to 

184 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

take  us  home.  Of  the  thirty  three  who  enlisted  from  Marlboro,  eight 
were  killed  or  died  from  disease,  eight  were  discharged  because  of 
disabling  wounds  or  other  physical  disability,  two  deserted  and 
fifteen  now  return  to  their  homes. 

Among  the  hardy  and  dutiful  soldiers,  whose  record  has  not 
been  given  on  these  pages,  are  Albert  Stambaugh  and  Jonas 
Wearstler  of  Marlboro  township,  Franklin  Acker  of  Lake  town- 
ship and  David  Bates  of  Paris  township  who  passed  through  their 
entire  term  of  two  years  and  ten  months  service  without  missing 
a  day  on  duty. 

Before  leaving  Cleveland  these  Marlboro  boys  provide  them- 
selves with  new  suits  of  citizen's  clothing  including  hats,  shoes, 
white  starched  shirts  and  paper  collars  and  cuffs.  On  arriving  home 
tubs  of  water  with  ample  supplies  of  soap  and  insect  powder  await 
us  to  which  we  are  immediately  introduced  after  the  first  greeting. 
The  folks  at  home  prefer  to  forego  further  greetings  for  the  present. 
We  soon  appear  dressed  in  citizens  clothing  but  these  new  duds  are 
uncomfortable,  especially  so  the  stiff  bosomed  shirts,  and  paper 
collars.  A  look  in  the  glass  impress  us  that  an  introduction  would 
not  be  amiss.  Little  patches  of  whiskers  growing  here  and  there  are 
now  missing  and  hair  parted  at  the  old  scar  that  has  seldom  been 
exposed.  With  a  wide  exposure  of  white  shirt  front  and  white  paper 
rings  about  our  necks  and  wrists  we  really  feel  timid  about  going 
out  on  the  street  fearing  we  may  hear  some  one  whistle  the  dog  call 
we  gave  the  white  collared  and  gloved  Potomac  guards.  (While  en- 
camped at  Washington  City  we  gave  these  guards  the  name  of  "Ring" 
because  of  their  white  collars  and  always  whistled  the  dog  call 
when  we  wished  to  attract  their  attention. 

We  have  now  fulfilled  our  contract  with  Uncle  Sam.  and  can  come 
and  go  as  we  please  without  pass  or  countersign.  Again  we  pass 
through  the  experience  of  adapting  ourselves  to  changed  conditions 
and  manner  of  living.  We  are  restless  and  want  to  be  moving  and 
are  trying  hard  to  become  reconciled  to  this  new  life  of  peace  and 
quiet  but  not  lamenting  over  the  loss  of  a  "steady"  job.  The  exciting 
and  strenuous  scenes  of  the  past  three  years  are  in  strange  contrast 
with  the  peaceful  quiet  of  home.  Recollections  of  the  severe  drill 
and  discipline  of  exacting  army  officers  with  the  dangers  and  hard- 
ships through  which  we  have  passed  is  a  wonderful  aid  in  bringing 
about  a  reconciliation  to  civil  life.  We  find  employment  in  the  hay 
field  where  we  work  in  spite  of  blistered  hands.  We  haven't  handled 
shovel  or  ax  for  several  months  so  our  hands  are  now  soft  but  the 
heavy  callous  on  the  bottoms  of  our  feet  remain  for  some  time. 
Nights  are  spent  lying  on  floors  and  couches  before  we  become  rec- 
onciled to  mother's  soft  beds  but  it's  a  comfort  to  know  that  we  can 
now  rest  without  fear  of  reveille  call  or  the  long  roll  to  awaken  us 
from  peaceful  slumber.  Regular  meals  and  full  rations  with  pastries 
and  dainties  ruin  our  appetites  for  our  stomachs  seem  to  have  be- 
come adjusted  to  the  army  rations  at  irregular  hours  and  in  irregular 
quantities. 

185 


Footprints  Through  Dixie 

During  the  summer  of  1863  while  leaving  many  footprints  (some- 
times with  the  heels  pointing  toward  the  enemy)  on  the  hot  and  dusty 
pikes  in  Kentucky,  a  mania  for  letter  writing  breaks  out  in  the  ranks 
of  company  "B".  This  was  started  by  boys  giving  their  chums  the 
name  of  a  neighbor  girl  at  home,  or  sister  perhaps,  with  whom  to  cor- 
respond. Other  boys  advertised  in  home  papers  for  correspondents 
and  the  girls  were  not  slow  in  responding.  A  brisk  correspondence 
followed  until  our  duties  became  so  pressing  that  the  good  work 
somewhat  lagged.  In  a  number  of  cases  this  correspondence  was 
carried  on  under  assumed  names  on  the  part  of  the  girls  and  the  cor- 
rect names  given  later  on  should  the  parties  become  interested  in 
each  other.  One  of  the  girls  in  whom  I  became  interested  positively 
refused  to  give  her  name  until  the  discovery  was  made  at  the  close 
of  the  war  that  my  young  sister  at  home  had  been  working  the  north- 
ern end  of  my  correspondence  line,  she  enjoying  the  joke  much  more 
than  her  victim  did.  My  romance  was  all  shot  to  pieces  and  to  add 
to  this  mortification  Sis.  persisted  in  repeating  sentences  from  these 
letters  that  her  victim  had  lost  all  interest  in  and  didn't  want  to  be 
reminded  of,  more  especially  in  the  presence  of  company.  The  last 
letter  received  from  this  unknown  correspondent  bore  the  following 
inscription  on  the  envelope: — 

"This  is  for  J.  W.  whose  surname  is  Gaskill 
Who,  I  trust  will  receive  the  enclosed  epistle. 
A  soldier  is  he, 
In  Company  "B", 

And  regiment  One  Hundred  and  Four 
Brigade  the  First, 
Division  the  Third, 
And  Twenty  Third  Army  Corps." 

"To  follow  the  regiment." 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  a  roster  of  soldiers  who  entered 
the  army  from  Marlboro  township  is  compiled  which  shows  that  out 
of  a  population  of  about  sixteen  hundred  inhabitants  in  the  township, 
one  hundred  and  eleven  enlistments  were  made,  twenty-three  of  whom 
were  killed  or  died  in  service.  The  fate  of  three  of  the  soldiers  was 
never  known  and  it  is  quite  probable  the  bodies  of  the  boys  now 
occupy  graves  among  the  thousands  marked  "unknown." 


186 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


3 11950 
OCT  1  4  1930 


Form  L9 — 15m-10,'48  (B1039 )  444 


THBUTOAOT 

f 


EGQ1   Gaskill  - 
G21f  Footprints 

through  Dixie, 


OCT 


£601 
G21f 


A 001157371     4 


